‘Terrible, hateful acts of murder.’ Killings of 4 Muslim men may be linked, NM cops say
Update: Police said they have detained a suspect in the deaths of four Muslim men in New Mexico.
“We tracked down the vehicle believed to be involved in a recent murder of a Muslim man in Albuquerque. The driver was detained and he is our primary suspect for the murders,” Albuquerque police chief Harold Medina said on Twitter Tuesday, Aug. 9.
The original story is below.
After three Muslim men were killed in New Mexico in two weeks, police said they believe those killings — and a fourth last year — may be linked.
During a news conference Sunday, Aug. 7, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said the city and law enforcement are working to “bring justice to catch the perpetrator who committed these terrible, hateful acts of murder.”
“Targeted violence has no place in Albuquerque, and we will not stop until this perpetrator is found and held to justice,” Keller said.
President Joe Biden said he was both angered and saddened by the killings.
“These hateful attacks have no place in America,” Biden tweeted Sunday, Aug. 7.
The four Muslim men were all killed in Albuquerque:
An unidentified man, a Muslim native to South Asia in his 20s, was killed on Aug. 5, 2022.
Muhammed Afzaal Hussain, 27, a Muslim from Pakistan, was killed Monday, Aug. 1, 2022.
Aftab Hussein, 41, a Muslim also from Pakistan, was killed July 26, 2022.
Mohammad Ahmadi, a Muslim from Afghanistan, was killed Nov. 7, 2021.
In the most recent incident, police responded to reports of a shooting in southwest Albuquerque. They have not yet identified the man.
Police said they are now trying to determine if the killing of another man, Mohammad Ahmadi, a Muslim from Afghanistan, from Nov. 7, 2021 is also related.
Police said they cannot disclose why they think the crimes are related. And, they said, it is too early to classify them as hate crimes.
“Hate is determined by motive, and we don’t know that motive at this point,” Gilbert Gallegos, director of communications for Albuquerque Police Department, said during Sunday’s news conference.
The Council on American–Islamic Relations’ deputy director Edward Ahmed Mitchell told CNN that the killings are a “tragic, disgusting, horrific tragedy.”
“This is unprecedented. The Muslim community is no stranger to hate crimes and acts of hate. But we’ve never seen something like this,” Ahmed said.
Law enforcement is asking for anyone with any information to share it.
“Evil will not prevail. We have to work together. We have to stay united. I want this to be on the mind of every Albuquerque citizen,” Albuquerque police chief Harold Medina said during a news conference on Saturday, Aug. 6. “We must report everything we see in hopes to help the Muslim community. And we have to stand strong with them.”
Police released the photo of a car believed to be “involved in the murders of four Muslim men” during Sunday’s news conference and asked for anyone with information about a dark colored, four door Volkswagen with tinted windows, possibly a Jetta or a Passat, with possible damage to contact police as soon as possible.
The department has set up command posts throughout the city, as well as created an online portal for citizens to share information, for individuals to share information, Keller said during Sunday’s news conference.
“This is a frightening time for many, we have members of our Muslim community who are afraid to participate in everyday activities that they should never be afraid to do. Things like shopping, things like praying, things like going to school,” Keller said Sunday.
In response, the city has taken additional safety measures, including “increased police presence near mosques and Muslim affiliated schools” and creating plans with law enforcement for students returning to schools, according to Keller.
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