17-Year-Old Girl Charged in US Mosque Attack
A 17-year-old girl has been charged with murder in connection with a deadly attack on a mosque in San Diego, California. She is accused of livestreaming the attack and helping the attackers distribute propaganda. The teenager from North Carolina was arrested last week. A grand jury indicted her on three counts of murder and one count of conspiracy on Monday, August 31. Under North Carolina law, she will be tried as an adult.
Authorities allege that she communicated with the attackers before the May 18 attack on the Islamic Center in San Diego. She allegedly agreed to livestream the attack and later distribute the video and the attackers’ writings. She was not in California when the attack took place. Authorities said the attackers, 17-year-old Kane Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Vasquez, opened fire at the mosque, killing three people, including security guard Amin Abdullah. The two attackers later died by suicide in a nearby car.
Investigators also said that the attackers had planned to target a Jewish place of worship and a high school attended predominantly by Black students, in addition to the mosque.. The teenager’s lawyer has denied the allegations and said she is innocent. The case is now before the court.
Sources: Reuters, AP, Anadolu Agency
