New Mexico police probe killings of 4 Muslim men, Biden condemns ‘hateful attacks’
Police in New Mexico on Sunday requested for the general public’s assist in finding a “car of curiosity” of their probe of 4 deadly shootings of Muslim males whose slayings in Albuquerque over the previous 9 months are believed by investigators to be associated.
Mayor Tim Keller mentioned state authorities have been working to offer an “further police presence at mosques throughout occasions of prayer” because the investigation proceeds in New Mexico’s largest metropolis, dwelling to as many as 5,000 Muslims out of some 565,000 whole residents.
The most recent sufferer, police mentioned, was gunned down on Friday night time, in a killing that native Islamic leaders mentioned occurred shortly after he had attended funeral providers for 2 others slain throughout the previous couple of weeks.
All three of these males, in addition to the very first sufferer who was shot lifeless in November, have been Muslim males of Pakistani or Afghan descent who resided in Albuquerque.
Police have given few particulars of the most recent homicide however described the primary three killings as ambush shootings. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has characterised them as “focused killings of Muslim residents.”
I’m angered and saddened by the horrific killings of 4 Muslim males in Albuquerque. Whereas we await a full investigation, my prayers are with the victims’ households, and my Administration stands strongly with the Muslim group.<br><br>These hateful assaults don’t have any place in America.
—@POTUS
U.S. President Joe Biden posted a message on Twitter on Sunday expressing solidarity with the Muslim group, including, “These hateful assault don’t have any place in America.”
Albuquerque police officers informed a information convention hours later that they have been following plenty of leads and issued a bulletin with images of a four-door, darkish gray Volkswagen sedan with tinted home windows that they described as a “car of curiosity” within the investigation.
A number of police companies investigating
It was left unclear how the automobile was tied to the case, and police mentioned that they had but to find out whether or not they have been searching for a number of suspects within the investigation.
The three newest victims belonged to the identical mosque, in keeping with Tahir Gauba, a spokesperson for the Islamic Middle of New Mexico. Officers have been withholding the id of the person killed on Friday pending notification of subsequent of kin.
However Gauba mentioned he was killed shortly after attending the funeral for the 2 earlier victims.
Muhammed Afzaal Hussain, 27, a planning director for the town of Espanola, N.M., who immigrated from Pakistan, was shot lifeless on Aug. 1 outdoors his condo advanced, lower than every week after Aftab Hussein, 41, from Albuquerque’s giant Afghan group, was discovered slain on July 26 close to the town’s worldwide district, police mentioned. Hussain had as soon as labored on the marketing campaign crew for Melanie Stansbury, U.S. congresswoman from New Mexico.
Police have mentioned they’re treating the 2 slayings, together with Friday’s killing, as linked to the Nov. 7 homicide of 62-year-old Mohammad Ahmadi, additionally a Muslim from Afghanistan, who was shot to loss of life in a parking zone outdoors a halal grocery store and cafe.
“There are a number of issues in frequent with all 4 of the homicides,” metropolis police spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos informed reporters on Sunday.
Requested whether or not investigators contemplate the killings to be hate crimes, Gallegos mentioned, “Hate is decided by motive, and we do not know that motive at this level.”
Gauba estimated there are 3,000 to five,000 Muslims residing in and round Albuquerque, accounting for about 85 per cent of your entire state’s Islamic inhabitants.
New Mexico State Police, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service are among the many companies helping within the investigation.
