PRESS STATEMENT— SAFETY ALERT: CAIR-Chicago Condemns Deadly "Anti-Islamic" Shooting at San Diego Mosque, Urges Increased Community Vigilance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(CHICAGO, IL, 5/18/2026) – The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the shooting attack at a mosque in San Diego and issued a community safety alert urging local Islamic centers and houses of worship to review and strengthen security measures.

Reports indicate that at least three community members, including the mosque security guard, were killed in the attack. Children in the Islamic school were evacuated safely. Authorities continue to investigate the incident.

"Investigators recovered anti-Islamic writing in the car...The words “hate speech” were written on one of the firearms used in the attack".

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said “Because of the Islamic centre location, we are considering this a hate crime until it’s not.”

In a statement, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab said:

“The community is mourning. No mosque or any house of worship should have to go through this. Personally, I am shocked but not surprised at this familiar scene, particularly with the dizzying anti-Muslim hatemongering out there led by some elected officials like Rep Randy Fine.

We are closely monitoring updates from the relevant authorities, praying for the safety of all involved, and sending an alert for local Islamic centers to beef up security. Lastly, we remember the guard and the other two adults as heroes. Had it not been for their courage and the phenomenal response from the San Diego police department, this could have been far more deadly.”

CAIR-Chicago is encouraging mosque leaders and community organizations to take proactive security measures, including:

1. Contact CAIR-Chicago for a customized security plan tailored to your mosque or community center, working with our specialized security expert.

2. CAIR offers a “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.

3. Remain extra vigilant with the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday

4. Report any bias incident, threat, or hate crime via www.cairchicago.org/report-discrimination

CAIR-Chicago’s mission is to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote understanding. 

CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago, 202-870-0166, arehab@cair.com; Hafsa Haider, Communications Director of CAIR-Chicago, 561-317-7509, hhaider@cair.com