Police Question Suspect Over New York Imam Killing
Umer Jamshaid Published August 15, 2016 | 10:16 PM
NEW YORK, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th August, 2016) - New York police were questioning a suspect on Monday in connection with the double murder of an imam and his assistant near their mosque in Queens. Maulama Akonjee, 55, who migrated to the United States from Bangladesh, and his assistant, 64-year-old Thara Uddin, were shot dead in broad daylight on Saturday afternoon in the Ozone Park neighborhood. "An individual in custody for an unrelated incident has been questioned," a police spokesman told AFP.
So far, no arrests have been made in connection with the murders, the spokesman said. Police on Sunday released a sketch of a suspect, asking for public assistance in identifying the "adult male with a medium complexion, last seen wearing a dark colored shirt and blue shorts.
" The sketch showed a man wearing glasses with a beard and moustache, and a high forehead with his hair combed back. Funeral prayers are due to be held for Akonjee and Uddin on Monday afternoon. Police say so far nothing indicates that the two men were targeted because of their faith, but members of the Muslim community have called the attack a hate crime. They point to growing Islamophobia fueled by a series of terror attacks in the United States and abroad, as well as hostile statements by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. The working-class area where the victims were killed, on the border between Queens and Brooklyn, is home to many Muslim families from Bangladesh. Akonjee had been carrying more than $1,000, but the attacker did not take the money, police said.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Cricket: England v West Indies 3rd Test scoreboard
Finance minister briefs Chinese officials on reform agenda, engagement with IMF
Finland says Russian vessel violated its territorial waters
Olympic opening ceremony under way on River Seine
West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third Test
Ukraine court orders detention of suspect in murder of nationalist ex-MP
Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris opening ceremony
Rana Sanaullah Khan joins Paris 2024 Olympics inauguration reception
Glowing tributes mark 69th birthday of President Zardari at Governor's House
Players unaware of spying scandal as Canada Olympic coach sent home: official
Naqvi hails Pak women cricketers for going down fighting against SL
'Sabotage' on French rail network before Olympics: What we know
More Stories From World
-
Biden talks Gaza ceasefire efforts with king of Jordan
4 hours ago -
Sinaloa Cartel co-founder pleads not guilty after stunning US capture
4 hours ago -
Panama says Venezuela blocked ex-presidents going to observe polls
4 hours ago -
Ethiopia mourns victims of landslide tragedy
5 hours ago -
Khan Yunis fighting displaces 180,000 Gazans in four days: UN
5 hours ago -
Trump slams rivals as he meets Netanyahu in Florida
5 hours ago
-
Obama & his wife, Michelle, officially endorse US VP Kamala Harris for president
5 hours ago -
Rain, cooling slow huge blaze in Canada's Jasper park
5 hours ago -
Airbus and Boeing supremacy secure despite turbulence
5 hours ago -
S.African police detain 95 Libyans at suspected military camp
5 hours ago -
'Slapping therapist' guilty over UK diabetic woman's death
6 hours ago -
Panama says Venezuela blocked flight of ex-presidents going to observe polls
6 hours ago