Albuquerque man detained in murder of four Muslim men, police say

Albuquerque Police have identified the murder offour Muslim menin New Mexico's largest city as a ``principal suspect. announced that he had detained

Police Chief Harold Medina announced his update on Twitter on Tuesday. The killing has created a ripple of terror in Muslim communities both inside and outside New Mexico, and has sparked a race to find out who is responsible.

"We have located a vehicle believed to be involved in the recent murder of a Muslim man in Albuquerque. The driver is in custody and he is the prime suspect in the murder," he tweeted.

Other information was not immediately available. Police said they would provide an update on Tuesday afternoon.

Naeem Hussain was killed Friday night and three other men died in an ambush.

Hussein, 25, was from Pakistan. His death came days after Muhammad Afzar Hussein, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, who were also from Pakistan and were members of the same mosque.

The earliest incident was the November killing of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, from Afghanistan.

Authorities on Monday called for help in searching for a vehicle believed to be the vehicle found on Tuesday. A common factor in the deaths is the victim's race and religion, according to officials, and Albuquerque police are trying to determine if the deaths are related.

New York Muslim community said a female friend who lives in Michigan and wears a hijab head shared how rattled she was over the weekend. I am very scared, I travel alone," said Almontaser.

Anila Abad, general secretary of the New Mexico Islamic Center, described a community shaken by the killings, whose grief was exacerbated by the turmoil and terror that followed.

"We are completely shocked and trying to understand what, how and why happened," she said.

READ MORE: Albuquerque killings spread fear among Muslim communities outside New Mexico

Some people refrain from going out unless it is "absolutely necessary," and some Muslim college students Some people are wondering if it's safe to stay in, she said. Security has also been strengthened at the center.

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Police suspect the same vehicle was used in all four murders_dark gray or A silver four-door Volkswagen looks like a Jetta or Passat with dark windows. Authorities released the photos in the hope that they would help people identify the car, and offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. He did not say where the film was shot or why he suspected the car was involved in the murder. Police spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos said in an email Monday that the agency had received information about the vehicle but did not provide details.

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said Sunday ``We have a very strong connection. ``We have a vehicle of interest. He said he could not comment on whether police knew how many suspects were involved in the violence.

President Joe Biden said he was "angered and saddened" by the killings and that his administration "strongly supports the Islamic community." 's hateful attacks have no place in America," Biden said in a tweet on Sunday.

Discussions about safety led Almontaser to It's also sweeping through WhatsApp and email groups that it participates in.

"As a Muslim minority community in the United States that has endured so much backlash and discrimination since the 9/11 attacks, what happened in New Mexico is very appalling," she said. "It's terrifying."

According to FBI data cited by Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism and US professor of criminal justice, there have been more than 100,000 people in Albuquerque in the last five years. There are few documented anti-Muslim hate crimes. California State University in San Bernardino.

From 2017 to 2020, he committed one anti-Muslim hate crime per year. The most recent high was in 2016, when Albuquerque police recorded six of a total of 25 hate crimes.

This is the lowest number of the decade in 2020 and only a 45% increase in 2021 is in line with the national trend of Twelve cities and states, according to Levin.

Albuquerque officials say they cannot determine whether a killing is a hate crime until they identify a suspect and motive.

John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York Forensic psychology professor Louis Schlesinger says prejudice murders are often committed by a minority of people, especially young white men. Lone perpetrators are rare.

"These are basically total losers in every way, socially, economically, psychologically," he said. “They are hateful for some reason, and they target specific groups who see in their own hearts responsibility for all the problems in life.”

Victims become attackers. It was not clear whether he knew

A recent victim was found dead after police received a gunshot call. Authorities have refused to disclose whether the killings were carried out in a manner similar to other deaths.

Muhammad Afzaal Hussain worked as his organizer on the field of campaigning for local councilors. rice field.

Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury released a statement, praising him as "one of the kindest, hardworking people ever." She said city planners are "dedicated to making sure our public spaces work for everyone and cleaning up legacy pollution."

As Land Use Officer for the city of Espanola, more than 37 kilometers north of Albuquerque, Hussein is committed to improving conditions and inclusiveness for disadvantaged people. I worked for According to the mayor's office, a minority.

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