A sketch of a suspect in the shooting of Imam Akonjee and Uddin hangs on a street sign across from Al-Furqan Jame Mosque, where the two victims had been worshipping on Saturday afternoon before the shooting, in New York, US.
A suspect in connection with the murder the Bangladeshi Imam and his associates in New York was arrested on Sunday, according to Fox News.
It referred to The New York Post report which said that the unidentified 35-year-old man was arrested in Brooklyn hours after a video of the murder was released. The paper reported the man was tracked through a Chevy Trailblazer similar to the one that the gunman was seen getting into at the scene of the crime.
The man has yet to be charged, said the report.
Imam Maulama Akonjee, 55, and his associate Thara Uddin, 64, were killed near the Al-Furquan Jame Masjid mosque in Queens as they left afternoon prayers on Saturday.
“This was a hate crime. One hundred percent, there’s no doubt about it,” said Monir Chowdhury, who worshipped daily with the two men.
He was quoted to have said he had moved to the community because of its large Bangladeshi immigrant population, but in recent months has been harassed by people shouting anti-Muslim epithets.
The video shows the gunman pumping rounds into the two men in Ozone Park at around 2pm. Police sources told The Post that they believe the murderer “knew the imam and knew his schedule.”
Police released a sketch early Sunday of a dark-haired, bearded man wearing glasses. Police said witnesses described the shooter as a man with a medium complexion.
Investigators have yet to establish a motive for the shooting. Deputy inspector Henry Sautner said Saturday there was “nothing in the preliminary investigation to indicate that they were targeted because of their faith.” Akonjee was carrying about $1,000 in cash that was not taken during the shooting, police said. Akonjee’s son said it wasn’t uncommon for his father to carry that amount of money.
Residents in the neighborhood were skeptical of what the police had found up to Sunday, said the report.
Source: Prothom Alo
