A deadly attack on the biggest mosque in San Diego, California, sparked widespread reactions online, with many activists, commentators and social media users condemning the attack, and scrutinising the American political and media environment they say normalises Islamophobic rhetoric and dehumanises Muslim victims.
Two teenage gunmen opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, killing three people, including a security guard.
Children attending classes at the adjacent Al Rashid School were evacuated from the premises as police cleared the building.
The suspects were later found dead in a car, from “self-inflicted” gunshot wounds, according to police.
Authorities said the attack is being investigated as a hate crime after investigators reportedly found writings containing “generalised hate rhetoric and hate speech” connected to one of the suspects.
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The shooting comes amid a spike in Islamophobic attacks in the US, which recent research suggests is linked to Washington’s policies and its move to attack Iran.
The attack took place during one of the holiest periods in the Islamic calendar, just days before Eid al-Adha and during the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, considered among the most sacred days of the year for Muslims.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl described the shooting as “every community’s worst nightmare” and said one of the victims, a security guard at the mosque, “undoubtedly saved lives”.
Online, people hailed the guard, identified as Amin Abdullah, as a hero.
“His name is Amin Abdullah. He is the security guard who gave his life to protect the children and stop the terror attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego,” wrote an X user.
“This man died a hero, but should still be alive and would be if it weren’t for the rising hatred against Muslims. RIP.”
“Brother Amin Abdullah was the guard at the mosque in San Diego for years,” wrote influential American imam Omar Suleiman. “He was instrumental in stopping the shooters from reaching the children today.”
Brother Amin Abdullah was the security guard who was martyred at the Islamic Center of San Diego. He gave his life to protect the lives of countless students and congregants.
One of his last Facebook posts said:
“What is success? To many people success is financial stability… https://t.co/CTpjyBtVmK pic.twitter.com/vRD6HLlGbC
— Chris AR Blauvelt (@arblauvelt) May 18, 2026
Another widely circulated post on X shared what was described as one of Abdullah’s final Facebook posts, in which he reflected on returning to God “with the same pure soul He loaned me at birth”.
‘Islamophobia is encouraged by institutions’
Alongside mourning, many online users questioned public and political responses to attacks targeting Muslims, arguing that they were inconsistent.
“Will there be any laws passed about anti-Muslim speech, public outcry, and global condemnations for an attack on a house of worship?” asked historian and media critic Assal Rad. “Or does that not apply to all religions equally?”
The reaction intensified after the right-wing tabloid New York Post published an article with a headline reading: “San Diego mosque where mass shooting left 3 dead has controversial history – including ties to 9/11 hijackers”.
Didn’t even wait a day for the dehumanization https://t.co/OxFlfHW8eW
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) May 19, 2026
The headline was widely criticised on X.
“This is a disgusting headline. You should be ashamed,” wrote a user.
“You might as well have just said ‘NY POST: shooting at mosque, they deserved it’,” added another.
“There’s institutional stigma w antisemitism, meanwhile islamaphobia (sic) is encouraged by institutions,” wrote popular political commentator and streamer Hasan Piker.
Some media organisations were accused of diminishing the focus on the Muslim victims.
One Fox News contributor appeared to suggest, without evidence, that the attack might be tied to Iran.
“Of course it’s never the fault of blue-blooded Americans (even though almost all school shootings are), but somehow it has to be ‘the Muslims’,” posted Iranian-American political analyst Hooman Majd.
This is the type of rhetoric that kills Muslim children everywhere. Every pundit, journalist, writer, and speaker who has spent their time funneling and spreading hate against Muslims is invested in this machinery of death that knows no bounds. https://t.co/sSJ2f1zvLk
— Fatima Mohammed (@fatima__m7md) May 18, 2026
Others said the reactions reflected a broader social climate in which anti-Muslim rhetoric had become normalised, citing figures like Trump ally and internet provocateur Laura Loomer and Republican lawmaker Randy Fine, both of whom have history of making highly inflammatory anti-Muslim remarks.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria condemned the attack and said “Islamophobia has no home in San Diego”, while California Governor Gavin Newsom said the state “will not tolerate acts of terror or intimidation against communities of faith”.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Imam Taha Hassane of the Islamic Center said “the religious intolerance and the hate that unfortunately exists in our nation is unprecedented.
“My community is mourning,” he continued and added that “all of us are responsible for spreading the culture of tolerance, the culture of love”.
