Community honors men who defended mosque amid suspected hate crime.
Image Al Jazeera
More than 2,000 mourners gathered in a San Diego park on Thursday to honor three men killed while defending the city’s largest mosque. Security guard Amin Abdullah, 51, handyman Mansour Kaziha, 78, and Nadir Awad, 57, were hailed as heroes for delaying the attackers and preventing further bloodshed.
The Janazah prayer was held outdoors, with participants including police officers. The men were set to be buried together later in a nearby cemetery. Mourners called for an end to anti-Muslim hatred, highlighting rising Islamophobia in the U.S.
Authorities said Abdullah used his radio to alert police and secure the mosque, protecting 140 students hiding inside. Kaziha and Awad were killed while rushing to the scene after hearing gunfire. The teenage assailants later died from self-inflicted gunshots in their vehicle.
Family members praised the bravery of the victims. Khaled Abdullah, Amin’s son, called his father a hero for defending children and innocent people
