Two men in “religious garb” were shot at around 1:50pm EDT today walking from the Queens mosque (Ozone Park) just after afternoon prayers. One of the men was the Queen’s Imam (religious leader like a minister), the other was his assistant.
Imam Alala Uddin Akongi, the married father of three, was a revered religious leader since his arrival in Queens from Bangladesh less than two years ago. His assistant, 65-year-old Thara Uddin, died about four hours after the attack. — NYDailyNews
It was a lone gunman though no motive has yet been found. The Muslim community, faced with increasing Islamophobia due to the rhetoric of the Trump campaign believes this a hate crime.
This is what many American Muslim communities feared. Some feeling as if they were holding their breath.
The Imam was to leave for Bangladesh in 10 days to attend his son’s wedding.
