New Mexico
New Mexico authorities investigate killings of 3 Muslim men
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police in New Mexico’s largest metropolis are attempting to find out if the ambush capturing deaths of three Muslim males over the previous 9 months may very well be related.
Albuquerque police have confirmed that native detectives and federal regulation enforcement officers are in search of attainable ties among the many separate crimes. Two of the lads — Muhammed Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41 — have been killed prior to now week, and each have been from Pakistan and members of the identical mosque. The third case entails the November killing of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, a Muslim man of South Asian descent.
Deputy Police Commander Kyle Hartsock would not share specifics, however he mentioned the commonality among the many victims is race and faith.
“We’re taking this very critically. We would like the general public’s assist in figuring out this cowardly particular person,” Hartsock mentioned throughout a information convention Thursday in entrance of the Islamic Heart of New Mexico.
The governor, Albuquerque’s mayor and civil rights teams have raised considerations, saying violence in opposition to members of the neighborhood based mostly on race or faith won’t be tolerated.
Hartsock reiterated that authorities can’t say but if the shootings have been hate crimes till they’ve recognized a suspect and might decide a motive.
The killings got here as Albuquerque is on tempo for one more record-setting 12 months of homicides.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations on Friday supplied a $5,000 reward for info resulting in the arrest and conviction of the individual or folks liable for the capturing deaths. The council is the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group.
“If a bias-motive is set, state and federal authorities ought to apply applicable hate crime fees,” mentioned Nihad Awad, the director of the nationwide group.
The 2 most up-to-date killings have been in southeast Albuquerque. Ahmadi was killed behind the market and cafe he owned together with his brother.
“In all three instances, the victims have been ambushed with no warning, fired on and killed,” Hartsock mentioned.
Ahmad Assed, the president of Islamic Heart of New Mexico, mentioned he didn’t imagine the three victims knew each other, based on the Albuquerque Journal.
“The neighborhood definitely is in want of understanding the egregiousness of the conduct displayed in all three of theses shootings,” Assed mentioned at a information convention. “If it’s true that we have been focused as Muslims, then they have to be very vigilant in defending themselves and taking measures of precaution. They should be careful for his or her environment.”