VPD Steps Up Patrols at Mosques After San Diego Attack

Vancouver police are deploying additional officers to mosques and Islamic centres across the city following a mass shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, where three people — a security guard, two worshippers — were killed.

The attack underscores a grim reality: places of worship remain vulnerable, and communities that have experienced targeted violence carry a justified wariness about security. In San Diego, the shooters, aged 19 and 17, were later found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.

Vancouver Police Department spokesperson Const. Darren Wong said the increased patrols are about reassurance and visibility. "The goal here is to have a visible police presence so that our community feels safe to go about their regular business," Wong said in an email Wednesday. All patrol officers have been briefed on which mosques and Islamic centres fall within their jurisdictions and warrant attention.

The VPD is also monitoring intelligence reports and maintaining active engagement with Vancouver's Muslim community — a recognition that security and community trust aren't separate concerns. The presence of police outside a mosque sends a message: we see you, we're paying attention, and your safety matters.

It's a preventive posture, not a cure, but it signals that local law enforcement understands the stakes when hate-motivated violence strikes thousands of kilometres away but reverberates directly into Vancouver's neighbourhoods.