Thousands Mourn Three Men Killed in Mosque Attack in San Diego

Three men killed in San Diego mosque shooting remembered as heroes at memorial service.

A large gathering of over 2,000 people has taken place in a park in San Diego, California, to pay their respects to three individuals who lost their lives during an attack on the city’s largest mosque. The victims were Amin Abdullah, 51; Mansour Kaziha, 78; and Nadir Awad, 57.

The memorial service, which included police officers in uniform, took place on Thursday with attendees standing in rows for the Islamic funeral prayer, or Janazah. The bodies of the three men lay beneath cloth under a white canopy as mourners chanted “God is the greatest” in Arabic, raising their hands.

According to reports, the three men were killed while attempting to stop an attack on the mosque during school hours. They are believed to have delayed and distracted two teenage suspects who opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday. The suspects, identified as Khaled Abdullah, 24, and another individual, are currently being investigated in connection with the incident.

Police Chief Scott Wahl stated that the attack is under investigation as a targeted attack, with authorities considering it a hate crime until further evidence is obtained. The police have indicated that the actions of the three victims likely prevented further bloodshed.

The imam of the Islamic Center of San Diego, Taha Hassane, addressed the crowd, saying “Today is a message to everyone: Our community got hurt, but our community is standing strong and firm.” Many mourners attended from across the United States, with some traveling from as far away as the East Coast.

The three victims are set to be buried alongside one another later in the day at a nearby cemetery.

Source: Al Jazeera