Ala Jaarah posted frantic Instagram videos begging for help as she evaded police following a mosque lockdown in San Diego.
The self-described “investigative journalist,” whose actions triggered a sweeping security response on Tuesday, has continued posting to social media from hiding while authorities search for her across county lines. Police confirmed by 4 p.m. That Jaarah had left San Diego County, prompting alerts to neighboring law enforcement agencies.
The incident began when officers received reports that Jaarah was experiencing a severe mental health crisis near the Islamic Center of San Diego. Concerns that she might be armed led to an immediate lockdown of the mosque, additional security at other houses of worship, and precautionary lockdowns at nearby schools.
Jaarah documented her own encounter at the mosque in an Instagram video. In the clip, she runs breathlessly toward the building before approaching a security guard with an alarming claim. “I’m scared,” she tells him. “I need protection. Someone is trying to kill me.”
She then makes a broader accusation against law enforcement, stating that police are trying to kill her because she was “talking about Palestine.” The video shows her then running screaming through the parking lot, shouting, “You guys need to wake up. Wake up!”
Witnesses at the scene told police that Jaarah spoke briefly with the security guard before driving away on her own. Officers swarmed the area afterward and established a wider security perimeter while the mosque remained closed through afternoon prayers.
The Islamic Center of San Diego reopened for evening prayer only after police confirmed Jaarah had left the region entirely. The department has since circulated the description of her vehicle, a 2015 gray Toyota 4Runner with New York license plate KGN3027.
Jaarah’s Instagram activity continued through Wednesday morning with escalating confrontations. She reposted a news story about the police search for her, then shared footage of what appeared to be a traffic stop with San Diego police. In that video, she refuses to roll down her window despite officers’ orders, then appears to drive away from the stop.
She also posted from outside the mosque early Wednesday, directly challenging ABC 10 News reporter Dani Miskell for allegedly spreading false narratives about the situation. Miskell responded directly in the comments section of Jaarah’s post.
“I spoke with the Imam at the Islamic Center of SD about this situation with running into you this morning,” Miskell wrote. “Just know that our presence outside the mosque this morning was because we care about your community, and I hope you’re ok.”
Commenters on Jaarah’s posts have claimed she is receiving mental health support, and the San Diego mosque has reportedly invited her to return. She additionally reposted another person’s comment regarding her police interaction, which stated that San Diego police has been issued a cease-and-desist regarding several incidents related to civil rights violations, with the commenter adding a note of support for Jaarah.
Among her most disturbing posts, Jaarah shared a video from what appeared to be a store displaying guns and tactical gear on Tuesday. “Get yourselves ready,” she captioned the post. “Protect yourselves because no one is going to protect you.”
San Diego police continue their search for Jaarah across multiple jurisdictions as her social media activity persists.
