At least three people have died after a shooting at a mosque in San Diego, which officials are treating as a suspected hate crime.
A heavy police presence remains at the scene outside the Islamic Center at Eckstrom Avenue, Clairemont.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to the community.
Mark Remily, the special agent in charge of FBI San Diego, confirmed two suspects found dead in a car near the mosque, seemingly from self-inflicted gunshots, were teenagers.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said: "Because of the Islamic Center location, we are considering this a hate crime until it’s not."
Mayor Gloria continued: "Emergency personnel are on scene and actively working to protect the community and secure the area.Please avoid the area and follow instructions from public safety officials. We will share updates as more information becomes available."
A spokesman from San Diego Police said in a statement: "The threat at the Islamic center has been neutralized."
Footage from local media showed dozens of patrol cars on a highway bridge next to the Islamic Center, with police officers and their vehicles surrounding the grounds, aiming rifles at the facility.
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Emergency workers respond at the scene in San Diego
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A police officer stands guard as emergency workers respond at the scene of a reported active shooter situation | REUTERS
A White House official said President Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting, with the President saying: "It's a terrible situation."
Speaking during a healthcare event at the White House, President Trump said: "They’re giving a briefing on it, at the mosque...and it’s a terrible situation.
"I’ve been given some early updates, but we’re going to be going back and looking at it very strongly."
The Islamic Center in Clairemont, a residential and commercial district of San Diego, is in the largest mosque in San Diego County, according to its website.
Emergency workers respond at the scene of a reported active shooter situation at the Islamic Center in San Diego
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A heavy police presence remains at the scene in San Diego | REUTERSLocal police sources confirmed to local news that two suspects are dead.
A spokesman for Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego confirmed patients related to the shooting were being received.
They said: "Our disaster procedures have been activated and we are coordinating with the County of San Diego and other resources to respond to the incident."
A spokesman for the FBI said "this is an active and fluid scene", adding that it is "assessing the situation."
Police stand guard, as emergency workers respond at the scene
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Director of the Islamic Center of San Diego Imam Taha Hassane called it "outrageous to target a place of worship."
He said: "I know it’s time of sorrow, time of sadness. We have never experienced a tragedy like this before. And at this moment, all what I can say is sending our prayers and standing in solidarity with all the families in our community here."
He thanked law enforcement and government leaders for showing up and "standing in solidarity with us."