LEILA FADEL, HOST:
The attack was in the middle of the day on Monday. And as we just heard, children inside the Islamic center were escorted to safety at a church. Here's 9-year-old Odai Shanah describing to Reuters how he felt right after the attack.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
ODAI SHANAH: I felt a bit scared. My legs were shaking and my hands. And my head was, like, hurting me a lot. I felt like a rock.
FADEL: Joining us now is the mayor of San Diego, Todd Gloria. Mayor, thank you for being with us. I'm so sorry for what members of your community are going through today.
TODD GLORIA: Thank you, Leila.
FADEL: I want to start with the people's lives who were taken. What can you tell us about those who were killed?
GLORIA: From what I know - and we are still withholding their names as we continue to work with the families that are impacted. All three were employees of the Islamic Center of San Diego. One, obviously, the security guard, the two others working within the mosque in support of the school. I think all three are heroes. Certainly, the security guard, whose office is right there at the entrance to the property, encountered the shooters first. And we believe that his heroic actions helped to provide time to allow the school to get locked down and to save every child's life.
FADEL: Wow.
GLORIA: The two other folks were killed inside the mosque. And it's an absolute tragedy, and my heart goes out to their families.
FADEL: Now, law enforcement, as you said, is still investigating Monday's shooting. They're investigating it as a hate crime. Have you learned anything more about those teens' motives for this attack?
GLORIA: It's difficult to tell. And I would like to rely upon only verified information for you and for your listeners. But we do have some evidence that would suggest very strongly that this is connected to bias and hatred - more vague in nature, not necessarily specific to any one community. But obviously, definitely acted upon this largest mosque in our entire county, as well as to a landscaper who was working a few blocks away. I don't think that these were necessarily accidental situations. I do believe these were folks that were intended upon doing a lot of harm in our community.
FADEL: What do you mean by more vague in nature, not necessarily about one community?
GLORIA: I think what has been shared with me is more about racial supremacy, rather than a targeted commentary against the Muslim community. But more is surely going to come out as we investigate this more fully and more deeply. And, of course, we'll make everything transparent to the public when the time is right.
FADEL: Are you aware of any threats made against the Islamic Center of San Diego or other mosques in the city or places of worship prior to this shooting?
GLORIA: No. No, not at all. As has been reported, the parent of one of the shooters did contact the San Diego Police Department about two hours before the shooting. And that was the limitations of our knowledge of the situation. Nothing specific against the Muslim center of San Diego or other places of worship. But, Leila, I want to assure San Diegans that we are taking this incredibly seriously and will be stepping up our presence around places of worship during this sensitive time.
FADEL: I'm curious. I mean, the Islamic Society of Orange County, in a different area, was targeted by an anti-Muslim activist last month, which did lead to violent threats against it. A different place, a different center. Did that lead to any increased law enforcement in San Diego or monitoring?
GLORIA: We monitor and work closely with our partners throughout the county and across the state, all kinds of situations. We recognize that this is a highly connected world and that sick and twisted individuals can take inspiration from anywhere. And so we are ever vigilant and work aggressively on prevention, working with communities. Imam Taha is an icon here in San Diego. He has a close relationship with the police department, City Hall, myself. And it's those relationships that get us through times like this and hopefully prevent situations like this happening. Sadly, of course, it wasn't enough yesterday, particularly not for the three who were killed.
FADEL: You mentioned Imam Taha, who leads the Islamic Center of San Diego. And we heard him earlier talk about a level of religious intolerance that's unprecedented. And this comes at a time of rising antisemitism, rising anti-Muslim hate. I've heard terms like invaders, cancer, death cult being used to describe Muslims, including from elected officials on the right. And after the attack, Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and close ally of the president, is calling the mosque evil and calling for Muslims to be deported. Do you worry that this type of atmosphere, this pervasive language contributes to violence like we saw on Monday in your city?
GLORIA: I don't worry about it. I know that it does. I know that people's rhetoric does matter. Words translate into action, and that's why it has to be repudiated. It has to be rejected by everybody at all levels of government and all positions, regardless of title. And that's why I want to be extremely clear that hate has no home here in San Diego, and that actions like this are not welcome. They do not represent our city. And to the extent that folks wish to engage in anything like it, we will hold you responsible, accountable under all the laws that we have available to us.
FADEL: Todd Gloria is the mayor of San Diego. Thank you, mayor, for speaking with us during this difficult time.
GLORIA: Thank you, Leila. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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