A series of murders of Muslim men in New Mexico sent a wave of fear through Muslim community across the United States.
Authorities identified a fourth victim on Monday, and have not ruled out a possible connection to the killing of several Muslim men in the city of Albuquerque.
Three of the killings happened in the last week, and authorities have said that race and religion of victims are common factors. “Investigators believe Friday’s murder may be related to three recent murders of Muslim men also from South Asia,” police said. Police have asked residents to help find a vehicle they believe is involved in the murder.
“I am deeply angered and saddened by the gruesome murder of four Muslim men in Albuquerque,” Biden said on Twitter on Sunday. “While we await a full investigation, my prayers go out to the families of the victims, and my administration supports the Muslim community. These hate-filled attacks have no place on American soil.”
I am deeply angered and saddened by the gruesome murders of four Muslim men in Albuquerque. While we await a full investigation, my prayers go out to the families of the victims, and my Administration stands in support of the Muslim community.
These hate-filled attacks have no place on American soil.
– President Biden (@POTUS) August 7, 2022
Naeem Hussain was killed Friday night, and ambush shootings have killed three other Muslim men over the past nine months. The murders have become a source of fear for Muslims across America who have faced racial discrimination, distinguishand violence.
Debbie Almontaser, a Muslim community leader in New York, wrote on Twitter: “The fact that the suspect is still big is scary. “Who’s next?!”
Hussain, 25 years old, from Pakistan. His death occurred shortly after Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, were also from Pakistan and members of the same mosque.
The earliest took place in November and involved the murder of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, from Afghanistan.
Aneela Abad, general secretary at the New Mexico Islamic Center, said the community was “absolutely shocked” by the killings, and that Muslim community centers had Increased security.
Edward Ahmed Mitchell, deputy director of the Muslim civil rights group Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said that Muslim community in the United States will respond to the killings with “vigilance, increased vigilance, resilience”.
CAIR offered a $10,000 reward for information to law enforcement leading to the arrest of the killer.
The same vehicle suspected to have been used in all four murders – a dark gray or silver Volkswagen four-door, which appeared to be a Jetta or Passat with tinted windows, according to police. Authorities released photos asking people to help identify the vehicle and offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
“We have a very, very strong bond,” Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said Sunday. “We have a vehicle of interest… We have to find this vehicle.”
If you have any information about the vehicle of interest in the killing of four Muslim men in Albuquerque, please contact the Albuquerque Crime Stoppers at 505-843-STOP (505-843-7867). or at https://t.co/86w3giuqkW
This community deserves justice, and we must and will address it. https://t.co/N6r1Uez0vK
– Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) August 7, 2022
State Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said in statement on August 6 that additional law enforcement resources were made available to the investigation.
“We will stop at nothing in our pursuit of justice for the victims and their families and are using all resources to apprehend the killer or killers,” the statement said. “And we WILL find them.”
Lujan Grisham also offered state support Muslim community. “We will continue to do everything we can to support the Muslim community in Albuquerque and larger New Mexico during this difficult time,” she said. “You are the new Mexican, you are welcome here, and we stand with you.”
