San Diego shooting shows disturbing trend of shooters copying acts of violence

Key Points:

• The recent San Diego mosque shooting, where two young men killed three people before committing suicide, reflects a troubling pattern of hate-motivated attackers drawing inspiration from previous mass shooters to incite societal collapse and race war.
• The shooters were deeply involved in online extremist networks, expressing hatred toward multiple groups and livestreaming their attack, highlighting the role of digital radicalization in modern violent extremism.
• Experts note that many recent mass shooters adopt ideologies from past attackers rather than traditional political affiliations, blending fascist beliefs with nihilistic motives aimed at causing chaos and societal breakdown.
• Despite acknowledging threats from various extremist groups, the White House's counter-terrorism strategy notably omits white supremacist violence and the radicalization of youth online, even as the FBI warns of rising nihilistic violent extremism exploiting vulnerable young people.
• Authorities continue to investigate networks that coerce youth into violence through manipulation and blackmail, underscoring the challenge of combating digital radicalization that transcends conventional political divides.