Informational brief
A concise public record of selected incidents, U.S. hate-crime statistics, and global attacks used as reference points for religious-site security, extremism research, and infrastructure risk.
United States
Lethal attacks at U.S. mosques remain uncommon relative to global conflict zones, but ideologically motivated arson, bombs, and shootings are documented. The cases below are drawn from public reporting.
No fatalities; arson and pipe bomb
Pipe-bomb and arson attack carried out by individuals motivated by anti-Muslim ideology. Perpetrators received lengthy federal sentences.
3 killed
May 2026 shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego killed three people and was investigated as a hate crime. One of the rare lethal attacks at a U.S. mosque in recent decades.
Worldwide
Mass-casualty attacks on mosques have been carried out by far-right and Islamist actors. These events are frequently cited in security planning for places of worship.
305–311 killed, 100+ wounded
ISIS-affiliated attackers used a bomb followed by gunfire against a Sufi mosque. One of the deadliest attacks on a place of worship in modern history, driven in part by anti-Sufi ideology.
51 killed
Far-right extremist attacked two mosques during Friday prayers, killing 51 people. The attack was livestreamed and became a global reference point for anti-Muslim mass violence.
Scale & Context
Statistics below are summaries of published datasets. They are presented for orientation, not as legal findings or a complete census of every incident.
Anti-Islamic bias incidents (FBI)
176 (2019) · 236 (2023) · 228 (2024)
Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting
Anti-Muslim terrorist attacks (2000–2019)
72 total · ~2/3 targeted mosques or Islamic centers
Source: University of Maryland START / Global Terrorism Database