San Diego, Calif., police say they’re responding to active shooting at Islamic centre | CBC News

An active shooter opened fire at a San Diego mosque Monday, and police believe people have been shot, authorities said.

Officer Anthony Carrasco said people reported multiple shots at the Islamic Center of San Diego, about 14 kilometres north of downtown San Diego. It was unclear if the shooter was outside or inside, or had been captured yet. The San Diego Police Department posted that the scene is “still active but contained.”

Carrasco said he did not have more information at the moment.

The Islamic Center is the largest mosque in San Diego County, according to its website.

The campus includes the Al Rashid School, which the website says offers courses in Arabic language, Islamic studies and the Quran.

Aerial TV footage showed more than a dozen children holding hands and being walked out of the parking lot of the centre that is surrounded by scores of police vehicles.

The white mosque is in a neighbourhood of homes, apartments and strip malls with Middle Eastern restaurants and markets.

In his post on X, Mayor Todd Gloria said: “I am aware of ​the active shooter situation at the Islamic Center of San Diego ⁠in Clairemont and am continuing to receive updates from ⁠law enforcement. Emergency personnel are on scene and ⁠actively working ⁠to protect the ​community and secure the area.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said he was being briefed.

“We are grateful to the first responders on the scene working to protect the community and urge everyone to follow guidance from local authorities,” his office posted on the social platform X.

The website says its mission is to not only serve the Muslim population but also “work with the larger community to serve the less fortunate, to educate, and to better our nation.”

Five daily prayers are held there, and the mosque works with other organizations and people of all faiths on social causes.