San Diego police and bomb investigators are examining a canister found in a suspicious vehicle near the Islamic Center of San Diego, just a month after a deadly hate-motivated attack at the same mosque. The vehicle was spotted around 11:45 a.m.
Thursday by officers already stationed at the Islamic Center on Derrick Drive near Genesee Avenue, according to police Sgt. Poorsaleh.
During a traffic stop, officers observed a Nazi flag and a suspicious canister inside the car. The driver was detained shortly after 12:15 p.m.
As a precaution, the Metro Arson Strike Team was called in to evaluate the suspicious item, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force has been notified and is coordinating with local police. Sgt.
Poorsaleh stated that there is currently no active threat to the Islamic Center of San Diego, but the investigation remains ongoing. No further details have been released.
On May 18, two teenage shooters attacked the Islamic Center, killing three men, including a security guard. Online manifestos purported to be written by the alleged shooters expressed white supremacist hate and other extremist views.
The incident has heightened tensions and concerns within the local community.