An imam was killed in a taking pictures assault exterior a mosque in Newark within the U.S. state of New Jersey on Wednesday, as police sought to nab the suspect.
The cleric was shot after 6 a.m. exterior the Masjid-Muhammad-Newark Mosque, Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé stated in an emailed assertion. The sufferer was taken to a close-by University Hospital and is in important situation, authorities stated.
Hours later, police had nobody in custody.
It’s unclear what led to the violence and if the imam was focused. Fragé stated the taking pictures is below investigation and no different data is offered. A message in search of extra data was left with the mosque.
Gov. Phil Murphy recognized the sufferer as Imam Hassan Sharif. He famous that authorities haven’t any details about who shot him, or why.
“At a time when the Muslim neighborhood is worried by a rise of bias incidents and crimes, I need to guarantee the Muslim neighborhood and other people of all faiths that we’ll do all the pieces in our energy to maintain all residents secure, particularly in or close to our homes of worship,” Murphy’s assertion stated.
The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, stated it’s gathering data and urged folks to contact native police.
“We are deeply concerned about this incident and pray for the speedy recovery of the imam,” CAIR-NJ spokesperson Dina Sayedahmed stated in a press release.
Complaints submitted after anti-Muslim incidents within the U.S. have tripled over the previous few a long time, in keeping with a report.
Source: www.dailysabah.com