Police searched for a woman who was reported to be possibly armed and may have been heading to the Islamic Center of San Diego on Tuesday, leading authorities to place the mosque under lockdown as a precaution.
San Diego police said they received information from the woman’s family that she had made suicidal statements and might be traveling to the mosque. Earlier, officers in Carlsbad had spotted a woman driving erratically at around 1:50 p.m.
The woman was believed to be driving a gray 2015 Toyota 4Runner with New York license plate KGN3027, according to police.
Authorities said the woman arrived at the Islamic Center in the Clairemont neighborhood, spoke with a security guard and then left. Officers responded shortly afterward and spoke with people at the mosque before placing the location under lockdown.
The San Diego Police Department established a police presence at the Islamic Center and urged the public to avoid the area while officers investigated. Police also visited other mosques and Islamic centers throughout the city.
Authorities said the woman did not make a direct threat against the Islamic Center or any other mosque. The lockdown was later lifted after police determined the woman was no longer in San Diego County.
The incident comes months after a deadly shooting at the Islamic Center on May 18, when 2 teenage gunmen opened fire on the campus, killing 3 Muslim men, including a security guard. The gunmen later left the scene and died by suicide.