BURST
Vancouver police say they are stepping up patrols at local mosques after shooters killed three people , including a security guard and two worshippers, at an Islamic centre in California Monday.
Police said emergency response teams found the victims outside the Islamic Center of San Diego, before the shooters, aged 19 and 17, were later found dead in a car from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
In an email Wednesday, VPD spokesperson Const. Darren Wong said Vancouver police are deploying extra officers to mosques and Islamic centres in Vancouver.
“The goal here is to have a visible police presence so that our community feels safe to go about their regular business,” said Wong, adding that all patrol officers have been advised on which mosques or Islamic centres to pay attention to within their patrol district jurisdiction.
“We’re continuing to monitor intelligence reports and remain actively engaged with our Muslim community as well,” he said.
A security guard at the San Diego Islamic centre was killed while trying to prevent the suspected attackers from entering the mosque. Two other worshippers were also killed.
Police in California are investigating the attack as a hate crime.
With files from AFP