Police investigating ‘active shooter’ report at Islamic Center of San Diego

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — San Diego police are investigating the report of a shooting at an Islamic center in Clairemont on Monday morning, officials said.

Police said they got a report of an active shooter at the Islamic Center of San Diego around 11:40 a.m., located in a heavily residential neighborhood about 9 miles north of downtown San Diego.

About an hour later, SDPD posted an update, saying the scene at the mosque was “still active but contained.” It was unclear if the shooter was outside or inside, or had been captured yet.

“We have significant resources on scene at this time,” the post on X said.

The department posted on X about the incident, asking residents to avoid the area.

Video from a helicopter and aired on NBC San Diego around 12:20 p.m. showed a group of young children being led away from the site by adults and law enforcement officers. A large number of law enforcement officers from various agencies converged in the area.

The center is home to the Al Rashid School, which offers courses in Arabic language, Islamic studies and the Quran. It holds five daily prayers and a variety of educational talks and seminars at the site.

On its website, the center says its mission is to not only serve the Muslim population but also “work with the larger community to serve the less fortunate, to educate, and to better our nation.”

The mosque is the largest mosque in San Diego County, according to its website.

Shortly before 12:15 p.m., Mayor Todd Gloria posted on X that he was aware of the “active shooter situation” and receiving updates from law enforcement.

“Emergency personnel are on scene and actively working to protect the community and secure the area,” Gloria wrote on X.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.