Islamic Center of San Diego
Community Update
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,
We hope this message finds you and your families in good health and strong faith. Jazakum Allahu Khairan for the continued patience, prayers, and support you have shown our community throughout this year.
We want to begin by reassuring everyone: there is no new threat to our community, and nothing about this update changes the safety of our masjid or our programs. ICSD remains open, secure, and fully operating for all prayers and activities as usual.
We are sharing this update because it is new and moving quickly, and we wanted our community to have accurate information as soon as possible, directly from us. Earlier today, a grand jury in North Carolina indicted Sarah Lindsey Santiago, a 17-year-old student from Winston-Salem, in connection with the case surrounding the May 18 attack on our community. According to prosecutors, she was in communication with the two attackers before the attack took place, and she is accused of watching and recording their livestream as the attack occurred, and of spreading their writings afterward. She was arrested last week, and this indictment is the next step in that legal process. This is a case that remains open, and it will likely take significant time to move through the courts.
The safety and security of our community, our students, and our staff remain our highest priority, and we continue working closely with the appropriate authorities as this investigation continues.
Out of respect for the families of our brothers who were taken from us, for their privacy, and for the ongoing work of the authorities on this active investigation, we are not able to share further details at this time. We will continue to share what we can, as soon as we are able to.
Please continue to keep our brothers and their families in your du'as, and please rely only on official updates from ICSD when it comes to this case.
May Allah (SWT) continue to grant our community healing, patience, and protection. Ameen.
- Islamic Center of San Diego Leadership
