US police say killings of 4 Muslim males could also be linked

Police within the US state of New Mexico mentioned Saturday they’re investigating the murders of three Muslim males that they believe are associated to a fourth murder from final yr.

The Albuquerque police division mentioned in a press release that they had discovered the most recent sufferer in a single day Friday.

They didn’t determine him however mentioned he was in his mid-20s, Muslim and “a local from South Asia.”

“Investigators imagine Friday’s homicide could also be related to a few latest murders of Muslim males additionally from South Asia,” the assertion mentioned.

Two of the earlier victims have been Muslim Pakistani males, a 27-year-old whose physique was discovered on August 1 and a 41-year-old who was discovered on July 26.

Detectives at the moment are investigating whether or not these murders are related to the loss of life of a Muslim man from Afghanistan who was killed on November 7, 2021, outdoors of the enterprise he ran along with his brother in Albuquerque, the assertion mentioned.

The police urged anybody with info to name a tip line and mentioned the FBI was aiding with the investigation.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham expressed outrage on the assaults and solidarity with the southwestern state’s Muslim neighborhood.

“The focused killings of Muslim residents of Albuquerque are deeply angering and wholly insupportable,” Lujan Grisham mentioned on Twitter.

She mentioned she was sending extra state law enforcement officials to Albuquerque to assist with the investigation.

“We are going to proceed to do all the pieces we will to assist to the Muslim neighborhood of Albuquerque and better New Mexico,” she mentioned.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the most important US Muslim civil rights group, mentioned Saturday it will supply a $10,000 reward to whoever offers info resulting in the killer’s arrest.

“This tragedy is impacting not solely the Muslim neighborhood – however all Individuals,” CAIR nationwide govt director Nihad Awad mentioned in a press release.

“We have to be united towards hate and violence whatever the race, religion or background of the victims or the perpetrators.”