‘I saw bad stuff’, says 9-year-old who huddled in closet during San Diego mosque attack
A nine-year-old boy, Odai Shanah, described his terrifying experience during a shooting at the Islamic Center in San Diego. He and his classmates were forced to hide in a closet as gunfire erupted outside. The incident resulted in the deaths of three men affiliated with the mosque, while all students were accounted for and safe.
- ▪Odai Shanah, a nine-year-old boy, huddled in a closet during the shooting at the Islamic Center in San Diego.
- ▪Three men affiliated with the mosque were shot dead by two teen suspects, who later took their own lives.
- ▪All students from the Bright Horizon Academy were accounted for and safe after the incident.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
‘I saw bad stuff’, says 9-year-old who huddled in closet during San Diego mosque attackSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxA parent carries his child while they leave the mosque, at the scene of a shooting at the Islamic Center in San Diego, California, US, on May 18, 2026.PHOTO: REUTERSPublished May 19, 2026, 02:13 PMUpdated May 19, 2026, 02:22 PMListenSAN DIEGO – Nine-year-old Odai Shanah, whose mother emigrated from war-torn Gaza and settled in Southern California two decades ago, was among dozens of children forced to huddle in classrooms on May 18 when deadly gunfire erupted at the mosque where they attend school.In an interview hours after the late-morning shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, Shanah recalled hearing a barrage of gunshots coming from…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.