A 17-year-old girl in the United States has been charged with three counts of murder after prosecutors accused her of recording and helping publicise a deadly attack on a mosque in San Diego.

The teenager, from North Carolina, was arrested last week and indicted by a grand jury on Monday. Prosecutors allege that she recorded a livestream of the attack and published a manifesto written by the two teenage gunmen.

The shooting took place at the Islamic Center of San Diego on 18 May 2026, leaving three people dead.

The girl faces three murder charges and one count of conspiracy under North Carolina law. Prosecutors said someone who aids and abets a crime can be held criminally responsible in the same way as the person who carried it out.

Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill said investigators were concerned about the teenager’s potential actions after the attack and decided to arrest her before she could return to school.

The attack was allegedly carried out by two males, aged 17 and 18, who opened fire inside and around the mosque before taking their own lives.

Prosecutors said the attackers wanted to kill as many people as possible and ensure that the violence was recorded and livestreamed.

Three people were killed, including mosque security guard Amin Abdullah and worshippers Mansour Kaziha and Nader Awad.

Abdullah exchanged gunfire with the attackers and activated a lockdown, helping protect about 140 children who were inside the mosque. San Diego police previously described his actions as heroic and said they undoubtedly saved lives.

Investigators said the gunmen used cameras attached to their helmets to record the attack. Prosecutors also allege that they had planned further attacks against a Jewish temple and a predominantly African American high school.

Authorities said the teenagers had an arsenal of about 30 guns and a crossbow, which investigators believe were taken from one of the shooter’s parents.

The attackers also left writings containing racist and antisemitic views and references to white supremacist ideologies. (BBC)