Study Finds San Diego Muslims Feel Less Safe After Mosque Attack

Study Finds San Diego Muslims Feel Less Safe After Mosque Attack
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A new study by UC San Diego has found that many Muslims in San Diego feel increasingly unsafe following last month’s deadly terrorist attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego.

The survey, released Monday by UC San Diego’s US Immigration Policy Center, included 312 local Muslim residents. According to the findings, 88 percent of respondents said they feel less safe since the May 18 shooting.

Community concerns intensified after a recent suspicious incident near the mosque involving a vehicle displaying a Nazi flag. Police later said there was no active threat, but Muslim community leaders said the incident renewed fear and trauma among worshippers.

Local advocates say the findings confirm long-standing concerns about anti-Muslim hate and the need for stronger security and prevention efforts. Community representatives have called on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office to allocate $20 million for safety measures across San Diego County’s 22 mosques.

They are also urging investment in research and programs addressing Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate, saying physical security alone is not enough.

Community leader Nizam said the May 18 attack reflected deeper issues that must be addressed, adding that Muslim residents have long been familiar with being targeted by hate incidents.

The study has renewed calls for stronger protections, support services, and broader action to prevent future attacks.