San Diego Mosque Attack: Victims Identified as Mansour Kaziha and Nader Awad
The San Diego Mosque Attack
Authorities confirmed the identities of two other men killed in an attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego, in the latest apparent hate incident in the United States.
Victim Details Revealed
Mosque officials on Tuesday said Mansour Kaziha and Nader Awad had been killed when two gunmen attacked the religious site the day before.
- Mansour Kaziha was a longtime employee of the mosque, originally from Syria, and was married with five adult children.
- Nader Awad was a member of the mosque who lived across the street and rushed to the facility when he heard gunshots.
The Heroic Response
The third victim, Amin Abdullah, a security guard credited with thwarting the attackers, was identified by friends and family.
The alleged gunmen were later found dead of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Investigation and Aftermath
Police have been investigating the attack as a hate crime.
The chairman of the Mosque’s board of directors, Ahmed Shabaik, said all three men had played a role in responding to the gunmen.
The mosque complex, the largest in the county, remained closed as police continued their investigation.
Rise in Hate Crimes
The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) said in a statement on Tuesday: “Hate against American Muslims is completely out of control.”
The mosque has seen an increase in hate calls in recent times, as instances of Islamophobia have remained elevated amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.