Following a deadly shooting at an Islamic center in California this week, New Jersey residents can expect to see a heightened law enforcement presence at places of worship, according to the Attorney General.
On Monday, five people, including two teenage suspects, died after the teens allegedly engaged in a shooting rampage at the Islamic Center of San Diego.
Officers arrived within four minutes of a reported shooting to find three men dead outside the mosque at the center of 7050 Eckstrom Ave. in the Clairemont neighborhood of San Diego, according to the San Diego Police Department.
Authorities said the two suspects, 17 and 18, died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds in a nearby car. Muslim hate speech was written on their firearms, and the incident is being investigated as a hate crime, officials added.
More from Patch: 5 Dead, Including 2 Teen Suspects, In San Diego Mosque Shooting
While there is no specific threat in New Jersey, law enforcement entities are increasing their presence around places of worship, including mosques, out of an abundance of caution.
“We are horrified by the deadly shooting today at the Islamic Center of San Diego, and we join together with those in California and across the country in offering our condolences to the families affected by this senseless tragedy,” Attorney General Davenport said. “No one should ever fear for their life in a place of worship, and we must stand together in rejecting hate and violence in our communities.”
Davenport added that law enforcement on both local and state levels will be taking precautionary steps both in public and behind closed doors to ensure the safety of religious places of worship in the coming days.
Governor Mikie Sherrill said she was “devastated” over the shooting, and echoed sentiments from the Attorney General.
“No one should feel unsafe in their house of worship,” Sherrill said. “Our thoughts are with the victims, families, and all those grieving. Hate and violence have no place in our communities. New Jersey State Police will increase patrol visibility around houses of worship statewide and continue coordinating with law enforcement and faith-based partners to help keep communities safe.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell says anti-muslim hate is “out of control” in this country, adding that “hate speech” leads to “hate crimes.” See the full CNN interview here.
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