Five people have been killed in a shooting at an Islamic centre in San Diego, including two suspects, as police have said they are treating the incident as a possible hate crime.
Authorities say two teenage suspects opened fire at the Islamic centre in San Diego on Monday, killing three men before killing themselves.
A security guard was among those killed in the mosque, said San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl.
Footage from the local NBC television affiliate showed dozens of patrol cars on a highway bridge next to the Islamic Centre, with police officers and their vehicles surrounding the grounds, aiming rifles at the facility.
TV images from the scene also showed armed officers moving through the complex.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he is aware of the shooting at the mosque and is receiving updates from law enforcement as emergency personnel respond to the scene.
The Islamic Centre in Clairemont, a residential and commercial district of San Diego, is the largest mosque in San Diego County, according to its website.
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."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in San Diego condemned the attack.
"May Allah grant him the highest rank of Paradise and protect everyone from harm. No one should ever fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school," CAIR said on X.
As per the local media, two suspects in the shooting were reported dead, according to high-level law enforcement sources from local agencies.
The San Diego Police Department separately posted a message stating that its officers were "on scene" for an active shooter incident.
Police later said that "the threat has been neutralised", without giving further details.
"The threat at the Islamic centre has been neutralised," police said on X.
The Islamic Centre serves a congregation of more than 5,000 members, according to its website.
Its campus houses the Al Rashid School, which offers religious and language instruction.
The centre says its mission is to support the community while working with the wider public to aid the less fortunate, promote education, and contribute to America’s betterment.
