Security guard's 'heroic' actions saved others in San Diego mosque attack, officials say

A security guard inside the Islamic Center of San Diego minimized an attack by moving the situation to the front area of the mosque and saved lives. Police praised his actions as heroic, and the mosque honored him as courageous for protecting others even in his last moments. The guard had worked at the mosque for several years. Two other victims were also killed, including the man who ran the mosque grocery store and the husband of a teacher, though authorities had not released their names. Community members expressed grief and anger, citing the trauma children will face and blaming misunderstanding of Islam for the violence, while calling for education about Islam as a religion of love and peace.

"San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said the security guard who was inside the mosque was "able to minimize the situation to the front area of the mosque" and saved lives. "His actions were heroic," he said. His name has not been released, but the mosque honored him in a Facebook post, calling him a "a courageous man who put himself on the line of the safety of others, who even in his last moments did not stop protecting our community""

"The Islamic Center of San Diego is one of the largest mosques in San Diego and attracts worshippers from across the region. Inside are classrooms, an office, praying halls, a multipurpose room, a library, a kitchen, and a grocery store where kids frequently buy snacks after school. The man who ran the grocery store and the husband of one of the school's teachers were also killed, according to mosque members. Authorities have not yet identified them by name."

"Suzan Hamideh was trying to come to terms with what unfolded at the mosque she'd been visiting for decades. Right now, she said, she's angry - at the loss of life, by the fact that the children will live with this trauma for the rest of their lives, and by what she called the rampant misunderstanding of the Muslim religion that she suspects led to the violence. "Why should this be happening to begin with? And then in schools and places of worship. There is so much hatred," she said."

""It needs to change, and it starts with educating people about Islam. It's a religion of love and peace." Hamideh said she'd heard from those inside that, as soon"

Read at Los Angeles Times