California Today

White Supremacist Ideology Behind Islamic Center Shooting

20 May 2026 14:00

The FBI has confirmed that the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego was motivated by white supremacist and far-right ideologies. The attackers, two teenagers, killed three people and were inspired by the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting.

- The manifesto targeted Muslims, Jewish people, Black people, the LGBTQ+ community, and women. - The shooters promoted symbols associated with white supremacists and Nazis.

- The "great replacement theory" was a key ideology, which has moved from fringe to mainstream. - Experts link the attack to stochastic terrorism, where dehumanizing rhetoric can incite violence.

The attack underscores the growing threat of far-right extremism and the need to confront hateful ideologies in public discourse.

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