Albuquerque, New Mexico
CNN
—
When Muhammad Imtiaz Hussain looked outside his homehe is used to seeing a safe, idyllic neighborhood. Now he is haunted by the place where he brother was ambushed and killed.
“I can see from the window place where is my brother died,” said Hussein. who lived in the same apartment complex in Albuquerque as his brother Muhammad Afzaal Hussein.
“I’m afraid to go outside of my apartment, ”mourns brother said. “I’m afraid to sit on my balcony.
For Muslims in New Mexico, daily life now riddled with fear after four Muslim men – including Muhammad Afzaal Hussain – were shot dead down in Albuquerque.
Three of victims – Hussein, 27 years old; Aftab Hussain, 41, and Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, were all ambushed. with no warning fired on and killed,” said Kyle Hartsock, deputy commander of Albuquerque Police Department Criminal Investigation Division.
Fourth victim – 25-year-old Naim Hussein – was found dead Friday night, Albuquerque police. He became the third Muslim to be killed in in city within two weeks and the fourth since November.
A few hours before his death, Naeem Hussein – who just became a US citizen – attended the funeral for two of other victims of the shooting. young The man expressed concern about the recent shelling, spokesman Tahir Gauba said. for Islamic Center of New Mexico.
So far there are no suspects information was released Albuquerque police report killings of four men from South Asia “may be related”.
Hussein said that the one who killed him brother not just steal a life of beloved family member; They also ripped off his family meaning of freedom.
“My children are not allow I even to step out of My apartment. They say, “Dad, this is scary” Hussain said. just steps where is it from brother was shot down.
“We planted flowers in our yardand we didn’t even water them. They said, “No, someone might be hiding over there.'”
Hussein had a grim task of identifying his brother remains at the medical examiner’s office. He said that his brother body was so severely mutilated that clear in killing was deliberate.
“More than half of his head gone. … At the time when I saw the body, he didn’t even have half of in face” Hussein said.
“Is not random killing. This is an extremely motivated and extreme hatred.”
Woe and terror spread among Muslims across New Mexico, said Ahmad Assed, president of Islamic Center of New Mexico.
“Incredibly scared. In panic. A little people want to move from the state as long as this thing over. A little people moved out of state,” Assed said.
“Business closes…early. The students won’t leave them homes,” he said. “It affects people from parish over to the mosque to perform their services, their prayers.
The police are looking fora vehicle of interestThis may be related to the four murders. They posted a photo of in car dark gray or silver Volkswagen with four doors and tinted windows. Police said it could be a Volkswagen Jetta.
Anyone with information about car or they ask about murders call Contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or contact Crime Stoppers at 505-843-STOP or CrimeStoppersNM.com.
“All information you provide will be anonymous and confidential”, city of Albuquerque said. “There are 20,000 dollars reward from Crime Stoppers and $10,000 reward from the Council on American-Islamic relations for information that leads to arrest”.
Hussein said that family fears of going out with killer or killers on free. But he said what he says out try to stop the violence.
“I am lifting voice for my brother because I am not want any others brother become a victim of these shooters, any sister will be a victim of these shooters, any mom or dad to fall victim to of shooter,” Hussein said.
He said he hoped “other people don’t be a victim of these shooters are suffering like I suffer.”
Until the police called the four murders hate crimes.”in In my opinion, this is clearly driven by hatred,” Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said Monday.
“Obviously they’re targeting Muslim men and they’re happening right here in our own refugee community”, Keller told CNN.
“We know what people in our community, in Muslim community especially, they are afraid to even leave their houseespecially at night. They are afraid to pray. They are afraid to go to school,” the mayor said.
Albuquerque is not just “in a place of I’m sorry now, but also in place of outrage,” Keller said. But community determined help.
“We have gathered all the resources to ensure that the police are present at prayer times in all our mosques,” the mayor said. We even do food delivery for families who are afraid to leave house to get food.”
Ased, the president of the mosque, said he was now among many Muslims in New Mexico wrestling with fear every day.
“I got in in car and I watch every one way possible. i watch mine side mirror. I’m looking for in in back. I’m looking for out for Any sign of anything out of ordinary,” he said.
“In the end of day, we have no alternative.”
Naeem Hussain emigrated as a refugee from Pakistan. in 2016 – fleeing persecution as a Shia Muslim – and became a US citizen. just last month, according to him brother-in-law, Ehsan Shahalami.
“He was the most generous, kind, giving, patient as well as down-to-earth person I could ever meet,” said Shahalami. “He was very hardworking. He shared that made with his family back home”.
young human, who opened its own trucking business this year was plans bring your wife over from Pakistan and buy a little property in Virginia, Shahalami said.
“He had a lot of dreams and he made some of them,” said Shahalami. “His others were interrupted by this heinous act.”
On the day of the assassination, Hussein attended the funeral. for two other Muslims men who have recently been killed in in city said Tahir Gauba, director of public affairs with Islamic center of New Mexico.
After the funeral, Hussein went to lunch at the mosque and approached Gauba to ask if he had more information on shooting, Gauba told CNN.
“He came in to say, ‘Hey, what’s going on? on? He was worried. I told him to be careful,” Gauba said.
We thought after the funeral of these two young men (on Friday), we would have a closing and move on and let law enforcement investigate,” Gauba said. “Awakening up Saturday morning to him death whole community just feels helpless. There’s a lot of fear. … It drives everyone crazy.”
Two other Muslims men killed – Mohammed Afzaal Hussain and Aftab Hussain – were members of the same mosque. Both were from Pakistan and were killed in southeast Albuquerque just several days apart, the police said.
After their murders, the police launched an investigation into whether the murder took place on November 7 of Mohammad Ahmadi, a Muslim from Afghanistan, was tied up.
Islamic center of New Mexico is painfully familiar with violence against Muslims in in community.
Pyro started fire on center property in november, city of Albuquerque website said. A month later, the police arrested someone. on suspicion of arson and careless arson.
Fortunately, no one was in mosque at that time of in fireAsid said.
But now the center where 700 to 800 Muslims gather on Friday it warning residents to be careful.
“We urge everyone to take precautions and be aware of your environment, including the creation sure that you are not being followed home as well as avoid walk alone at night, center posted on Facebook. “This is especially true for our members live in southeastern part of in city where did these murders come from place”.
After Hussein killing Friday, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced she will send additional state police to Albuquerque.
city is also increased police presence in mosques, Muslim schools and university of New Mexico officials announced.
“We heard from community that fear is so strong, there is anxiety even about things like food and nutrition for some people in certain areas of city,” Keller said. in weekend briefing by adding city helps with nutrition for victims of the murders.
Albuquerque has always felt like hospitable community for Muslims, even after 9/11, Gauba said. “It first the time we feel like this of atmosphere,” he said. “We in fear.”
