Three men killed in San Diego mosque shooting

Three men have been killed in a shooting at a San Diego mosque and both suspects are dead, police said.

Both suspects are believed to be teenagers and the case is considered to be a hate crime, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said at a news conference.

Authorities earlier said they believed multiple people had been shot at the Islamic Centre about nine miles (14 km) north of San Diego.

The centre 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 Koran.

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

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

Governor 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.