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San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria was interrupted and heckled during a news conference on Monday, held hours after a shooting at a local mosque that left three worshippers dead.
Authorities said three victims were killed in the attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego in California earlier in the day. Two suspected teenage gunmen also died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, according to law enforcement.
Before Gloria delivered his statement, a woman in the audience confronted him and blamed the city leadership for the attack.
“Our Muslim brothers and sisters have been talking to you for how long? You have to f*****g listen to them, Todd,” she shouted.
“You emboldened Zionist propaganda. And you’ll keep doing it as long as it lines your pockets,” she added.
Gloria later condemned the attack and rejected anti-Muslim hatred. “Hate has no home in San Diego. Islamophobia has no home in San Diego,” he said.
“An attack on any San Diegan is an attack on all San Diegans, and we will not stand for it.”
Taha Hassane, director of the Islamic Center of San Diego, described the attack as unprecedented for the local Muslim community. “We have never experienced a tragedy like this before,” Hassane told reporters.
Calling the attack “extremely outrageous,” he stressed that places of worship should be protected.
“It is extremely outrageous to target a place of worship. Our Islamic center is a place of worship,” he said.
“People come to the Islamic center to pray, to celebrate, to learn, not only Muslims, but we have people from all walks of life.”
Hassane noted that a group of non-Muslims had visited the center earlier the same morning to learn about Islam and the local community.
“So this is something that we never expected,” he said.
He also thanked people across the United States and abroad for offering condolences and support.
US lawmakers expressed solidarity with the victims and the Muslim community following the shooting.
Adam Schiff said he was “heartbroken” and described the shooting as “a horrific attack on Southern California’s Muslim community.”
“Every American should be able to practice their faith without fear of violence,” he said.
Sara Jacobs told Muslims in San Diego and across the country: “Know that you’re not alone. We have your back and we’ll get through this together.”
Hakeem Jeffries said he was “deeply disturbed” by the attack and added: “We must crush Islamophobia and the hatred that is fueling it.”
Alex Padilla said he was praying for the victims, their families and the wider San Diego community.
Authorities have not yet released additional information on the motive behind the attack.
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