San Diego police have identified two suspects in the attack on the Islamic Centre of San Diego that left worshippers bloodied and a city on edge. Sources close to the investigation confirm the men, aged 24 and 27, have prior arrests for hate crimes. They were taken into custody after a high-speed chase ended in a ditch on the outskirts of El Cajon.
The assault, which occurred during evening prayers on Thursday, involved the suspects hurling rocks and shouting anti-Muslim slurs before fleeing. Three worshippers sustained minor injuries. The FBI is now involved.
This is not a random act. Uncovered documents show both men had been flagged by a joint terrorism task force in 2022 for online posts calling for violence against Muslims. The police knew.
The question is why they were not under surveillance. The Islamic Centre's imam, in a statement, called for calm but noted the community has been on edge since the Christchurch massacre. San Diego's mayor has condemned the attack but offered no new measures.
The pattern holds: hate festers when accountability fails. We will keep you updated as more details emerge.
