Teen Attackers in San Diego Islamic Center Shooting Were Wallowing in Nihilistic Hate, Investigators Say
Investigators say the teen suspects showed neo-Nazi rhetoric online, and police later seized more than 30 firearms from two homes linked to them.
- On Monday, Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego, killing security guard Amin Abdullah and two others before taking their own lives. The assault forced a lockdown protecting 140 children.
- The shooters, who called themselves the 'Sons of Tarrant,' left a 74-page document inspired by the 2019 Christchurch attack and the Buffalo mass shooting, according to Ben Popp, lead threat analyst for the Threat Monitoring Unit of the ADL's Center on Extremism.
- Investigators seized more than 30 firearms from homes connected to the teens, while Chula Vista police had contacted Vazquez last year after concerns he was interested in extremist ideology and mass-casualty attacks. Their writings expressed hatred toward Muslims, Jewish people, and the LGBTQ+ community.
- Former Assistant Department of Homeland Security Secretary for Counterterrorism John Cohen stated law enforcement must act on threat assessments before crimes occur. Buffalo Police Commissioner Erika Shields ordered increased vigilance at houses of worship following the attack.
- Katherine Keneally, director of threat analysis and prevention at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, emphasized that addressing 'nihilistic extremism' requires understanding social media's role. Early intervention with families and mental health professionals remains critical to preventing future attacks.
64 Articles
64 Articles
Prosecute parents for kids who kill
Much remains unknown about the recent shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego that ended with three victims killed and the two teenaged suspects dead by their own hand. Initial reports from law enforcement suggest this was a hate crime. Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, were reportedly radicalized into white supremacy online, and left behind racist writings and symbols of Nazism and the Confederacy. A fuller view of their motives will n…
Hanford Sentinel
The spokesman-ReviewSan Diego mosque shooting suspect was previously flagged by FBI
One of the teenagers accused of carrying out a deadly shooting at a California mosque was flagged by the FBI as a potential threat last year, according to a person familiar with the matter. Caleb Vazquez was the subject of…
Manifesto in San Diego mosque attack references London truck tragedy, fuels fears of escalating hate violence
A manifesto purportedly written by the two teenagers responsible for a deadly shooting at the Islamic Centre of San Diego on Monday references the truck attack that killed four members of a London family nearly five years ago, sparking renewed fears of escalating hate-motivated violence.
The teens who attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego were latest to cite prior atrocities - The Boston Globe
An attack at a California Islamic center is the latest violence where the perpetrators said they were inspired by past atrocities, such as the 2019 massacre in Christchurch, New Zealand.
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