A canister found in a suspicious vehicle near the Islamic Center of San Diego on Thursday, a month after three people were fatally shot at the Clairemont mosque in an apparent hate-motivated attack, was found to be not dangerous, and no explosives were found, police said.
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The vehicle came to the attention of San Diego police officers who were already at the Islamic Center around 11:45 a.m., police Sgt. Saum Poorsaleh said. They alerted dispatchers to the vehicle, and officers found it on Derrick Drive near Genesee Avenue, he said.
During a traffic stop, officers saw a Nazi flag and the “suspicious canister” inside the vehicle, Poorsaleh said.
The driver was detained about 12:15 p.m., and remained detained as of 5:30 p.m.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the Metro Arson Strike Team was requested to respond and evaluate the suspicious item,” he said. The Joint Terrorism Task Force was also notified and is coordinating with San Diego police.
As the team worked, authorities evacuated nearby businesses and asked people at a nearby apartment complex to shelter in place. Poorsaleh said those precautionary measures were later lifted.
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The device was deemed not a threat to the neighborhood, but police were still gathering evidence several hours later, he said.
“At this time, there is no active threat to the Islamic Center of San Diego,” the sergeant said. “The investigation remains ongoing.”
No further information was released.
On May 18, two teenage shooters attacked the Islamic Center, killing three men, including a security guard, police said. Online manifestos purported to be written by the alleged shooters espoused White supremacist hate and other extremist views.
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