A security guard identified as Amin Abdullah has been hailed as a hero after he was killed during a deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego in California, United States, in what authorities are treating as a hate-motivated attack.
Police said Abdullah, who worked at the mosque complex for more than a decade, attempted to stop suspected gunmen from entering the premises where children were attending classes at an Islamic school. Officials believe his intervention helped prevent the attack from becoming far deadlier. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl described his actions as “heroic,” adding that he “undoubtedly saved lives.”
Abdullah, who is reported to be a father of eight, was a well-known figure in the mosque community. Friends and religious leaders said he was deeply committed to protecting worshippers and had volunteered to serve as a security guard out of a desire to safeguard vulnerable families and children attending the centre.
The attack occurred around 11:43 a.m. local time when police responded to reports of an active shooter at the mosque complex on Eckstrom Avenue. Officers arrived within minutes as chaos unfolded inside and around the Islamic Center, which also houses the Al Rashid School attended by children aged five and above.
Authorities said there was no specific threat made against the mosque before the incident, but investigators later found indications that the suspects had been influenced by hate-related ideology. The suspected attackers reportedly fled the scene before dying by suicide a few blocks away.
At the time of the shooting, children were being evacuated from the school as police and emergency responders secured the area. Footage from the scene showed families and pupils being escorted out under heavy police protection while dozens of vehicles surrounded the complex.
The Islamic Center of San Diego, the largest mosque in the county, serves as both a place of worship and an educational hub. Community leaders say it regularly hosts interfaith activities and outreach programmes aimed at promoting understanding and social support across different religious groups.
Tributes for Abdullah have poured in online, with community members describing him as a devoted family man and a familiar face at the mosque. Social media posts attributed to him reflected his religious devotion and commitment to faith, with messages expressing hope of returning to God with a “pure soul.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the attack, saying it was part of a broader rise in anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States and warning of the dangers faced by Muslim communities and places of worship.
Local and federal authorities have launched a full investigation into the shooting, including the motives of the suspects and how they obtained weapons. Security has since been increased around mosques and Islamic centres across the region.
Officials, including US President Donald Trump, have described the incident as a “terrible situation,” while community leaders continue to call for calm, protection of religious spaces, and unity in the aftermath of the attack.
