Three dead in shooting at San Diego mosque, police say

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 treated as a hate crime.

The San Diego Police Department said the threat had been "neutralised".

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