The Islamic Center of San Diego was placed under lockdown Tuesday as San Diego police searched for a vehicle connected to a threat against the Clairemont Mesa mosque. Officers asked the public to steer clear of the area while they worked to confirm everyone inside was safe.
San Diego police described the lockdown as a precaution, telling reporters the department had a presence at the location purely as a safety measure. According to NBC 7 San Diego, the mosque was placed under lockdown by the San Diego Police Department “out of an abundance of caution,” and officers maintained a presence at the location to ensure everyone's safety. Police also asked members of the public to avoid the area altogether while the situation was addressed.
Per 10News, a threat prompted senior leadership to place the center under lockdown and alert parents whose children attend the school on the grounds.
Police Issue Lookout for Gray SUV With New York Plates
As part of the response, San Diego police asked the public to watch for a 2015 gray Toyota 4Runner bearing New York license plate KGN3027, saying the vehicle was connected to the threat, the same 10News report states. Officers were explicit about what to do if the SUV turns up: do not approach it, and call 911 immediately. CBS 8 reported that San Diego police were searching for a woman connected to the lockdown who is said to drive the gray 4Runner with the New York plate.
The lockdown unfolded at the mosque's Eckstrom Avenue location in Clairemont Mesa, where officers kept a presence on scene to ensure everyone's safety, according to Times of San Diego. No further detail on the woman's identity, her alleged connection to the threat, or her whereabouts has been made public in the reporting reviewed so far.
Mosque Still Recovering From May Shooting
Tuesday's lockdown lands against the backdrop of a far more devastating incident at the same mosque earlier this year. Times of San Diego notes that a shooting at the Islamic Center on May 18, 2026, killed a security guard and two other congregation members. A 17-year-old girl from North Carolina was later arrested and indicted by a grand jury on three counts of murder in connection with that shooting, the outlet reported.
It remains unclear whether Tuesday's lockdown was related in any way to that earlier case. No information has been released indicating whether the 4Runner or the woman police are seeking was located, or when the lockdown was lifted.
