{"id":2604480,"date":"2026-05-19T12:17:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T16:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-know-about-the-san-diego-mosque-where-shooting-killed-five\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T12:21:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T16:21:54","slug":"what-to-know-about-the-san-diego-mosque-where-shooting-killed-five","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-know-about-the-san-diego-mosque-where-shooting-killed-five\/","title":{"rendered":"What to know about the San Diego mosque where shooting killed five\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhat-to-know-about-the-san-diego-mosque-where-shooting-killed-five%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2604480&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the deadly hate-crime shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego that killed five people (including three victims and two suspects who died by suicide) and renewed focus on the mosque\u2019s prominent,controversial history.<\/p>\n<p>It describes the center as one of the largest and oldest Muslim institutions in Southern California, serving thousands through daily prayers, youth activities, interfaith events, and an affiliated K-12 school. During the attack, the school community was evacuated safely and no injuries were reported.<\/p>\n<p>The piece then <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >recounts long-standing scrutiny<\/a> of the mosque due to the fact that two Sept. 11 hijackers-Nawaf al Hazmi and Khalid al Mihdhar-attended there while living in San Diego in 2000. It notes that the 9\/11 Commission did not conclude the mosque was complicit, and instead emphasized that the hijackers found assistance from people in the community.<\/p>\n<p>It also highlights recent controversy involving the mosque\u2019s leadership, including statements by imam Taha Hassane related to the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and Israel\u2019s role in Gaza, plus allegations of antisemitism involving comments or posts associated with the imam\u2019s family. The article mentions prior \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/man-in-nyc-arrested-for-a-string-of-attacks-on-women\/\" title=\"Man in NYC arrested for a string of ... on women\">hate crime<\/a>\u201d incidents around the center and connections involving organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations.<\/p>\n<p>it covers a split Republican reaction: many condemned the violence and called for protecting houses of worship, while some lawmakers criticized the mosque\u2019s leadership and language in the wake of the shooting-though they still said violence was unacceptable.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>The deadly <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/shooting\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1278\">shooting<\/a> at the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/islam\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"698\">Islamic<\/a> Center of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/san-diego\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1161\">San Diego<\/a>, which left five dead, including two suspects, has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/flashback-why-gold-star-parents-are-furious-at-biden-for-afghanistan\/\" title=\"Gold Star Parents Furious at Biden for Afghanistan\">drawn renewed attention<\/a> to one of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"60\">California\u2019s<\/a> best-known mosques, a religious center with a long history that includes both controversy and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-wins-special-election-flipping-district-democrats-won-just-months-ago\/\" title=\"GOP Wins Special Election, Flipping Recently Democratic District\">deep community roots<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>The mosque was the scene of what police are calling a hate crime, which left three dead, as well as the two suspects who were found in their car having died by suicide. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/national-security\/4573764\/mullin-san-diego-mosque-shooting-dhs-shutdown\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mullin says San Diego mosque could have been protected if DHS were funded<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4573739\/san-diego-mayor-mosque-shooting\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>San Diego mayor shamed at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mullin-says-san-diego-mosque-could-have-been-protected-if-dhs-were-funded\/\" title=\"Mullin says ... could have been protected if DHS were funded\">mosque shooting briefing<\/a>: \u2018Direct result of your leadership\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4573716\/hate-rhetoric-san-diego-mosque-shooting\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>\u2018Hate rhetoric\u2019 involved in deadly San Diego mosque shooting, police say<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Here\u2019s what to know about the mosque at the center of the tragedy:<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-one-of-the-largest-in-southern-california-nbsp\">One of the largest in Southern California <\/h2>\n<p>The Islamic Center of San Diego is among the largest and oldest <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/muslim\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2193\">Muslim<\/a> institutions in Southern California, serving thousands of congregants from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. <\/p>\n<p>It hosts daily prayers, youth programs, interfaith events, and an affiliated K-12 school, making it a major religious and community hub in the region. Students, teachers, and faculty from the school were safely evacuated when the shooting occurred, and no injuries or fatalities were reported. <\/p>\n<p>Imam Taha Hassane, director of the Islamic Center, has frequently described the organization as focused on outreach and interfaith understanding. The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/18\/us\/islamic-center-san-diego-mosque.html\"><em>New York Times<\/em> reported<\/a> that the sermons are conducted in English, rather than Arabic, because of the congregation\u2019s diversity. <\/p>\n<p>Following the shooting, Hassane emphasized the center\u2019s role as an open and welcoming place where Muslim and non-Muslim visitors regularly attend educational events and dialogues. The mosque had become known locally for outreach efforts with churches, synagogues, and civic groups in the San Diego area. <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-connections-to-9-11-hijackers-and-al-qaeda\">Connections to 9\/11 hijackers and al Qaeda<\/h2>\n<p>The mosque has also faced decades of scrutiny because two of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/9-11\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"957\">Sept. 11, 2001<\/a>, hijackers, Nawaf al Hazmi and Khalid al Mihdhar, worshipped there while living in San Diego in 2000. <\/p>\n<p>Investigators found the men had attended services and used mosque bulletin boards to help find housing while taking flight lessons nearby. <\/p>\n<p>However, the 9\/11 Commission never concluded the mosque itself was complicit in the attacks. Rather, the 9\/11 Commission Report notes that the hijackers found help within the community and from \u201cwell-meaning new acquaintances\u201d at the center. <\/p>\n<p>When helping the hijackers, the administrator let Hazmi use his bank account to receive a wire transfer, but the commission\u2019s report did not note if the administrator was aware of his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/al-qaeda\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1194\">Al Qaeda<\/a> connections. <\/p>\n<p>The center\u2019s history has periodically resurfaced in national debates over extremism and surveillance of Muslim institutions, particularly after it came to light that former imam Anwar al-Awlaki once preached in San Diego before later becoming an al Qaeda propagandist. <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-controversy-involving-imam-s-family-and-previous-hate-crime\">Controversy involving imam\u2019s family and previous \u2018hate crime\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>More recently, Hassane and his wife, community activist Lallia Allali, and daughter Selma Hassane, have faced criticism over social media activity and public comments related to Israel and antisemitism allegations. <\/p>\n<p>Taha Hassane made comments about the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/october-7\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11590\">Oct. 7, 2023<\/a>, Hamas attacks in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gaza\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"217\">Gaza<\/a>, saying the attack that killed 1,200 people was a response by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hamas\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"218\">Hamas<\/a> to a \u201cbrutal Zionist occupation and genocide.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cResistance is justified when people are under occupation and don\u2019t let them change that narrative,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p>Selma Hassane shared a video on Facebook of her husband encouraging students at the University of California, San Diego to urge the school to \u201cboycott and divest from Israel.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Allali reportedly shared a graphic of a Jewish star cutting through the heads of babies with the caption \u201cthe devil is killing,\u201d following the Oct. 7 attacks, according to an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/StopAntisemites\/status\/1718266674665664760?s=20\">antisemitism watchdog group<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>People living near the mosque <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/05\/18\/us-news\/san-diego-mosque-where-mass-shooting-left-3-dead-has-controversial-history-including-ties-to-9-11-hijackers\/\">told the <em>New York Post<\/em> <\/a>that after the Oct. 7 attacks, Taha Hassane changed from his previous moderate and friendly demeanor.  <\/p>\n<p>The Islamic center had been the scene of hate crimes before, when posters relating to the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas were posted around the center\u2019s campus. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey are trying to link the entire community \u2014 American Muslim community \u2014 with Hamas, with whatever is going on over there,\u201d Taha Hassane said at the time to Fox5 San Diego. \u201dThey are trying to portray us with and associate us with Hamas.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The center also has ties to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/cair\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"3273\">Council on American-Islamic Relations<\/a>, which has been labeled as a foreign terrorist organization in Florida and Texas. <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-republican-response-split-between-sympathy-and-criticism\">Republican response split between sympathy and criticism<\/h2>\n<p>Several Republican lawmakers have condemned the shooting and violence targeting houses of worship, while some also renewed criticism of past statements made by mosque leadership.<\/p>\n<p>Statements from Republican officials echoed messages often issued after attacks on churches and synagogues, calling for prayers for victims and increased protection for faith communities. <\/p>\n<p>Sen. John Husted (R-OH) offered his condolences for the victims and their families on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cViolence targeting people of faith at a mosque, synagogue, temple, church, cathedral, or chapel is abhorrent and has no place in America,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p>Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lindsey-graham\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"737\">Lindsey Graham<\/a> (R-SC) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tim-scott\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"521\">Tim Scott<\/a> (R-SC), as well as Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), also shared statements following the shooting, condemning religious violence. <\/p>\n<p>At the same time, Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/randy-fine\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17705\">Randy Fine<\/a> (R-FL) argued scrutiny of the mosque\u2019s leadership speaking against Israel should not be ignored amid the aftermath.<\/p>\n<p id=\"h-hate-rhetoric-involved-in-deadly-san-diego-mosque-shooting-police-say\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4573716\/hate-rhetoric-san-diego-mosque-shooting\/?itm_source=parsely-api\"><strong>\u2018HATE RHETORIC\u2019 INVOLVED IN DEADLY SAN DIEGO MOSQUE SHOOTING, POLICE SAY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis kind of language, which could have inspired two suicidal teenagers today, is disgusting and abhorrent,\u201d he said. \u201cI have massive issues with activities of this Muslim center, but shooting it up is NOT the answer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fine made the statement alongside a video of Taha Hassne speaking out against Israel following the Oct. 7 attacks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>San Diego Islamic Center shooting renews focus on its history<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2604484,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26138744672049.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[38565,17082,46595,4300,32405],"class_list":["post-2604480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-community-safety","tag-mosque","tag-san-diego","tag-shooting","tag-united-states"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26138744672049.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2604480"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2604486,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604480\/revisions\/2604486"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2604484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2604480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2604480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2604480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}