Five Dead in San Diego Mosque Shooting, Including Two Teenage Suspects

Five people are dead including two teenage suspects after a shooting at a San Diego mosque.

The three male victims include a security guard at the Islamic Center of San Diego, the county's largest mosque.

Police said the male suspects, aged 17 and 19, were found dead from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds in a vehicle nearby.

A shooting at a San Diego mosque has left three men dead as well as two teenage suspects, police say.

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said one of the victims was a security guard at the mosque.

He said the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego was being considered as a hate crime.

"This is every community's worst nightmare," he said before confirming there was no longer a threat.

Chief Wahl said police received reports of gunfire at the mosque about 11:43am on Monday, local time.

"Within four minutes officers arrived on scene and observed immediately what appeared to be three deceased victims out in front,"

he said.

He said as officers responded to the mosque, they also fielded reports of gunfire a few blocks away, where a landscaper was shot at but was uninjured.

Chief Wahl said the male suspects, aged 17 and 19, were then found dead in a vehicle nearby from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

The Islamic Center, about 14 kilometres north of downtown San Diego, 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 escorted out of the centre's parking lot, which was 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.

California Governor Gavin Newsom's office said he was being briefed.

"The Governor's Office of Emergency Services is coordinating with local law enforcement," it posted on X.

"We are grateful to the first responders on the scene working to protect the community and urge everyone to follow guidance from local authorities."

A nearby mosque, the Muslim Community Center of San Diego (MCC), has also closed for the day.

"Due to the unfortunate shooting incident at Islamic Center of San Diego, we are closing all activities at MCC for today. For your safety, please do not visit MCC today,"

it said on social media.

"May Allah (SWT) protect our community, keep everyone safe, and grant ease to all during this situation."

ABC/wires