San Diego Mosque Attack: Details on Teen Attackers and Their Inspiration

Two teenagers attacked a mosque in San Diego, identifying themselves as “Sons of Tarrant,” referencing Brenton Tarrant, a white supremacist who broadcasted his 2019 mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand. The two teens, Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, ended their lives shortly after killing three individuals at the Islamic Center of San Diego.

According to FBI reports, Clark and Vazquez became radicalized online, sharing white supremacist views. Investigators are examining a 75-page text titled “The New Crusade: Sons of Tarrant,” believed to have connections to both suspects. This document contains statements from Clark and Vazquez, expressing hatred towards Muslims, Jews, the LGBTQ+ community, Black people, women, and several political groups. Both suspects claimed that the white population was being eradicated, employing Nazi and other white supremacist symbols in their writings.

The manifesto indicated that Tarrant was their “biggest inspiration,” with the shootings livestreamed in a similar style. Video of the attack was disseminated on a site hosting violent content, as reported by CBS News.

Lead FBI agent Mark Remily commented on the broad scope of the attackers’ malice, saying, “Clark and Vazquez didn’t discriminate on who they hated.” Vazquez’s section even extolled Adolf Hitler, referring to him as “the greatest man to ever walk this Earth” and applauding other mass murderers.

The term “Sons of Tarrant” seems to signal alignment with white supremacist beliefs rather than define an organized group. The manifesto includes references to future attacks inspired by the Christchurch shooter’s ideology.

Who Was Brenton Tarrant?

In March 2019, Brenton Tarrant killed 51 and wounded over 89 in his New Zealand mosque attacks. He started at the Al Noor Mosque during Friday prayers, then moved to the Linwood Islamic Centre. Tarrant’s plea of guilty to murder and attempted murder in 2020 resulted in a life sentence without parole.

Who Were the Victims?

The victims of the San Diego shooting, Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nadir Awad, have been praised for their actions to stall the attackers, stopping them from reaching more than 140 schoolchildren inside the mosque.

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl stated that Abdullah engaged in a “gun battle” and initiated a lockdown, distracting the perpetrators and hindering their access to larger parts of the mosque. Abdullah continued to press the attackers, leading them outside, where he was fatally shot, Wahl confirmed.

The attackers reentered to empty rooms but then went to the parking lot, where they fatally wounded Kaziha and Awad. According to Wahl, their efforts minimized potential casualties significantly.

Imam Taha Hassane remembered the victims as vital community members. He credited Abdullah with sacrificing his life to shield others. Kaziha, described as a “pillar” of the mosque, was an all-encompassing resource at the facility. Awad, who lived nearby and was married to a school teacher at the mosque, quickly responded to the gunfire to help Kaziha, and both perished together.