Gunmen in mosque mass shooting identified
Moderated by Tomas Kauer 
Two gunmen who unleashed a hail of bullets on a mosque before turning the weapons on themselves have been identified.
Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, are understood to be the shooters who killed three people, including a security guard, at the Islamic Centre in San Diego on the US West Coast.
The gunfire triggered a massive response from heavily armed police who swarmed the scene within minutes to escort children and adults from a school inside the complex.
READ MORE: Man charged with killing woman, two children in Sydney home
San Diego Police Department said officers received a call from the mother of one of the suspects at 9.42am local time.
She told police her son had gone missing along with guns and her car.
She also told officers her son was suicidal and likely in the company of a friend. The two suspects were wearing military fatigues.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said officers received a second call at 11.34am with reports of an active shooter at the mosque.
"Officers were in the area still talking with mum, trying to piece together where they might be, the locations that she felt that they would be at, and that was just a few blocks away," Wahl said.
"Those officers, once they heard what was happening at the Islamic Centre, immediately dispatched themselves to the mosque."
Investigators are looking at possible anti-Islamic notes found in a car where police discovered the dead suspects.
The attack happened on the second day of Dhu'l-Hijja, one of the holiest months on the Islamic calendar.
It is the time when millions begin to embark on the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
Wahl said the shooting was being treated as a hate crime.
"Because of the Islamic centre location, we are considering this a hate crime until it's not," he told reporters.
"At this point, there was definitely hate rhetoric that was involved. I'll leave it at that for now."
He said the suspects were aged 17 and 18, and the security guard who was killed played a "pivotal" role in preventing any further deaths.
READ MORE: Business owners mock Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's CGT changes with AI meme trend
Imam Taha Hassane issued a video statement shortly after the shooting.
"We are safe, the entire school is safe," he said. "All the kids, all the staff, and the teachers are safe and out of the Islamic Centre."
"There is no threat at this moment, but we want everyone to stay away from the Islamic Centre of San Diego.
LIVE UPDATES: Eleven Australians onboard Gaza-bound flotilla intercepted by Israel
"We are closed for the rest of the day. Stay safe, stay at home, and make a lot of prayers."
A White House official said President Donald Trump had been briefed on the shooting.
"I've been given some early updates, but we're going to be going back and looking at it very strongly," the president said.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he and his wife were horrified by the attack and told San Diego's Islamic community that "California stands with you".
"Jennifer and I are horrified by today's violent attack at the Islamic Centre of San Diego, where families and children gather, and neighbours worship in peace and fellowship," Newsom said.
He said personnel from the California Highway Patrol and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services were on the scene coordinating with local authorities and offering the state's support.
"Worshippers anywhere should not have to fear for their lives," Newsom said.
"Hate has no place in California, and we will not tolerate acts of terror or intimidation against communities of faith."
READ MORE: Controversial call to cut tax as Senate examines illegal tobacco crisis
Sharp Memorial Hospital confirmed it was receiving patients related to the shooting.
"Our disaster procedures have been activated and we are coordinating with the County of San Diego and other resources to respond to the incident," Sharp spokeswoman Alicia Cook said.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the shooting as a "horrifying act of violence".
READ MORE: Sydney clearance rates plummet to COVID-19 pandemic lows
"Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this attack," the group said in a statement.
"No one should ever fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school."
Authorities on the other side of the country have been swift in their response to the San Diego shooting.
New York police said more officers had been dispatched to mosques around the city.
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here
