Police say killings of four Muslim men in New Mexico are likely linked

New Mexico police have said there is a “strong possibility” that the homicides of four Muslim men are linked and that the men may also have been targeted due to their faith.

Authorities did not provide any specific evidence to show that the victims were murdered as a result of being Muslim, however they did note the men’s religion in a press conference.

Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina attended a press conference on Saturday afternoon where he said “Our city has suffered another tragic loss overnight. Another young man who was part of the Muslim community was murdered. As with the previous three murders we mentioned on Thursday, there’s reason to believe this death is related to those shootings.”

“We need to ask the Muslim community especially to be vigilant. Watch out for one another. If you see something, say something,” Medina continued. He also asked that the Muslim community keep their guard up at this stage as he cautioned that the homicides also occurred in quick succession.

On July 26, 41-year-old Aftab Hussein, a café worker was found dead from gunshot wounds, close to Albuquerque’s international district. Two weeks later, Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, was also found dead from gunshot wounds in Albuquerque. On Friday, Naeem Hussain was shot to death in the parking lot of an Albuquerque NGO according New Mexico’s Islamic Center.

Law enforcement believe these 3 homicides could be linked to the death of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, who was shot behind the halal market he owned.

“There’s one strong commonality in all of our victims — their race and religion,” Albuquerque police Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock said during a recent press release, as per Reuters.

Albuquerque’s Office of Equity and Inclusion released information about the homicides of Farsi, Dari, and Urdu in Arabic on Saturday and asked for the public’s assistance in catching the killer(s).

“We urge our entire interfaith community of Albuquerque and all the people of Albuquerque to help law enforcement identify and catch the person or persons responsible,” Michelle Melendez, who directs the office, said during the briefing. “Please, please, call with any bit of information.”

New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham tweeted on Saturday that the killings were “deeply angering and wholly intolerable” and promised “to do everything we can to support to the Muslim community of Albuquerque and greater New Mexico during this difficult time.” She added, “You are New Mexicans, you are welcomed here, and we stand with you.”