“I saw horrible things”: The harrowing testimony of a child who hid during the shooting at a California mosque

A 9-year-old boy recounted experiencing a terrifying scene during Monday's shooting at the Islamic Center in San Diego, California, where he took refuge in a closet with other children while heavy gunfire rang out outside.

Odai Shanah, a student at the Islamic school attached to the religious complex, explained in an interview given a few hours after the attack that he heard a series of explosions coming from outside the building. The children were quickly gathered together and hidden in a small room for protection.

According to his account, the shooting continued for several minutes, with about a dozen to fifteen more shots fired after the initial bursts. The children huddled together, terrified, until the police intervened.

The boy described the arrival of the SWAT team, who ordered the occupants to open the door before evacuating them from the building. It was at this point, he recounted, that the children were confronted with a particularly shocking scene outside.

"I saw a lot of horrible things," said Odai Shanah, referring to the victims of the shooting without going into details, visibly still in shock from what he witnessed.

The young boy also spoke about his emotional state after the attack, explaining that he felt "numb like a stone," unable to fully understand what he had just experienced.

Her family has a history marked by exile: her mother left the Gaza Strip about twenty years ago to settle in the United States, according to her statements. The tragedy in San Diego has deeply shaken the local community, as authorities continue their investigation into an attack now being treated as a possible hate crime.