Muslim leaders across North Texas say security concerns are heightened following a deadly shooting at an Islamic center in San Diego that left three people dead, including a security guard who confronted the suspected gunmen.
Authorities in California are investigating Monday’s shooting as a possible hate crime. Community leaders in North Texas said incidents like this often leave local worshippers on edge and prompt mosques and other faith centers to review security measures.
“If it wasn’t for that security guard, [the gunmen] would have had easy access to the school,” said Omair Siddiqi, a North Texas Muslim community leader.
Siddiqi said attacks targeting any faith group can have a widespread impact beyond the immediate community involved.
“Not only Muslims and mosques, but other places of worship,” he said. “[They] need to make sure their security is intact, that they have protocols, security guards to make sure they’re protecting themselves and the places of worship.”
Visible security measures were already in place at some Islamic centers across North Texas this week.
Security concerns remain a constant focus for Mustafaa Carroll, executive director of the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, known as CAIR.
“Fortunately, the people in San Diego did have security,” Carroll said. “I know many of the mosques here have security, but I’m saying we can always get better at it.”
CAIR DFW plans to hold a press conference on Thursday morning to address the San Diego shooting and express support for the victims. The organization also plans to discuss a separate shooting incident under investigation in Dallas involving a member of the Muslim community.
NBC 5 has reached out to Dallas police for additional information about that investigation.
Carroll said the organization also plans to renew calls for unity and an end to hateful rhetoric.
“We’re going to ask Texans to do something that our leaders are not doing,” Carroll said. “We need to come together as a unified Texas and learn more from each other and stop the foolishness.”
Despite ongoing concerns, both Carroll and Siddiqi said they have also received support from non-Muslim community members across North Texas.
“We have to acknowledge that because if not, you just start thinking everyone’s out to get you, and that’s not true,” Carroll said.
Siddiqi said messages of support online and in person have helped reassure members of the community.
“You don’t really see a lot of kindness and the things, and there’s a lot of that,” he said.