San Diego Attackers' Manifesto Revealed: A Blueprint of Expansive Hate and 'Political Destruction'

San Diego, CA – A 75-page manifesto titled "The New Crusade: Sons of Tarrant," purportedly authored by teenage attackers Cain Lee Clark, 17, and Caleb Laim Vazquez, 18, has emerged as a critical piece of evidence in the investigation into the May 18, 2026, attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego. The assailants, who killed three victims and then themselves, left behind a document that, according to sources, outlines a sprawling ideology of hate targeting numerous groups and advocating for the "destruction of the political system."

The FBI has confirmed it is examining a manifesto, though it has not yet officially verified the specific document circulating online. However, multiple news organizations, including the Los Angeles Times, CBS News, Newsweek, and the Associated Press, have reviewed or obtained the document, reporting extensively on its contents. The writings offer a chilling insight into the radicalization of the two attackers, who reportedly met and were radicalized online.

The Manifesto's Wide Net of Hate

The document, "The New Crusade: Sons of Tarrant," reveals a broad and indiscriminate hatred harbored by the attackers. FBI special agent in charge of the San Diego office, Mark Remily, stated that "these suspects did not discriminate on who they hated." Remily further noted that the suspects left behind writings "outlining religious and racial beliefs about how the world they envision should look like."

Among the specific targets, Cain Lee Clark, one of the attackers, allegedly called for Muslims to be "exterminated" within the manifesto. The attack itself, occurring at the Islamic Center of San Diego, underscores this specific animosity. Imam Taha Hassane of the Islamic Center of San Diego expressed the community's shock, stating, "We are used to receiving hate mails, hate messages, people driving by and cursing and all that stuff. But such horrible crime, we have never expected this." Investigators also found a gun with hate speech written on it among the 30 weapons seized from the attackers' residences, further illustrating the depth of their prejudice.

Targeting the 'Political System' Itself

Beyond specific racial and religious groups, the manifesto also articulates a desire for significant societal upheaval, including the destruction of the existing political framework. A CBS News review of the document indicated it "is filled with language associated with nihilistic violent extremism, and references 'accelerationism,' one of the most violent forms of white supremacist ideology that advocates for the destruction of society."

Caleb Vazquez, allegedly one of the authors, explicitly distanced himself from conventional political labels in the manifesto. He wrote, "I am certainly not left wing, nor am I right wing — especially not with MAGA or Trump. Politically, I'd call myself a Third Positionist, specifically aligning most with National Socialism and eco-fascism, though any form of Third Positionism." Cain Lee Clark similarly described himself as a "Christian EcoFascist," indicating a shared ideological bent towards radical, anti-establishment views that seek to dismantle current systems.

Echoes of Past Extremist Ideologies

The title of the manifesto itself, "The New Crusade: Sons of Tarrant," directly references Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 people in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019. This connection is not merely titular; Caleb Vazquez allegedly stated in the manifesto that "The number one goal of this New Crusade is to restart and bring back the momentum that Saint Tarrant had started, to convince many other would be Saints that the time is now, and most importantly to kick start the race war."

The document highlights the attackers' immersion in white supremacist ideologies. Vazquez, in a chilling passage, allegedly wrote, "What was I religiously? It doesn't really matter at the end of the day. As a friend once said, my religion is the white race." The FBI's findings that the two attackers met and were radicalized online underscore the pervasive influence of extremist content on the internet, which facilitated the adoption and amplification of these dangerous ideologies.

Law Enforcement and Community Response

The attack on Monday, May 18, 2026, around 11:30 a.m., resulted in the deaths of three victims: security guard Amin Abdullah, 51, Mansour Kaziha, 78, and Nadir Awad, 57. Abdullah has been praised for his heroic actions in engaging the suspects and triggering a lockdown, which Imam Taha Hassane believes saved many lives, particularly the over 100 children in attendance at the school within the Islamic Center. "If he didn't do what he did and he sacrificed his life, the two suspects would have, easily, access to every single classroom," Hassane stated.

Investigators seized a substantial arsenal from the attackers' two residences, including 30 guns (pistols, rifles, shotguns), ammunition, tactical gear, and a crossbow. The teens also filmed their attack, and a 10-minute video was widely shared on a gore website. Approximately two hours before the attack, the mother of one of the shooters had called 911, reporting her son was suicidal and that weapons and her vehicle were missing. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl initially stated there was "no specific threat, especially no specific threat to the Islamic Center. It was just general hate kind of speech." However, the manifesto's explicit hatred towards Muslims and the chosen target location directly contradict this initial assessment. Federal and local authorities, including FBI special agent in charge Mark Remily, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl, Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche, Governor Gavin Newsom, Jennifer Newsom, and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, have been involved in the ongoing investigation and community response.

Preventing Future Attacks: Lessons from the Manifesto

The San Diego attackers' manifesto serves as a stark warning and a critical resource for understanding the evolving landscape of domestic extremism. Its detailed articulation of radical ideologies, from "Third Positionism" and "eco-fascism" to calls for a "race war" and the "destruction of society" through "accelerationism," provides law enforcement and communities with a blueprint of the modern extremist mindset.

The fact that the attackers were radicalized online underscores the urgent need to address the proliferation of hate speech and extremist content across digital platforms. Furthermore, the early warning provided by one of the shooter's mothers, though tragically insufficient to prevent the attack, highlights the crucial role of community vigilance and reporting concerning concerning behavior or threats. Studying the manifesto's content is essential for developing more effective strategies to identify, disrupt, and ultimately prevent similar acts of extremist violence in the future.

As the investigation continues, the San Diego community grapples with the aftermath of an attack fueled by profound hatred and extremist ideology. The "The New Crusade" manifesto stands as a grim testament to the dangers of online radicalization and the persistent threat posed by individuals seeking to sow division and violence. Understanding the full scope of the attackers' motivations and targets, as laid out in their own words, is paramount for both justice and for safeguarding against future acts of terror.