The US state’s attorney general announced the death of imam Hassan Sharif, who was shot on Wednesday outside a mosque in New Jersey. He said that at first, it did not seem as though “bias” or domestic terrorism was the motive for the crime.
According to Matt Platkin, the attorney general for New Jersey, Sharif was shot many times close to a mosque in Newark, a city just west of New York, before being transported to the hospital, where he eventually passed away.
“We do not yet know the motivation for this crime (but) the evidence collected thus far does not indicate that this was an act motivated by bias, or an act of domestic terrorism,” said Platkin.
He added that “in light of global events, and with a rise in bias that many communities are experiencing across our state — particularly the Muslim community — there are many in New Jersey right now who are feeling a heightened sense of fear.”
The state is home to 300,000 Muslim Americans, he said.
Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, there has been an increase in Islamophobic and anti-Semitic attacks across the United States.
The Essex County prosecutor, Ted Stephens, confirmed Sharif was shot more than once, and that “it does not appear the imam was the victim of a bias crime or that this is related to terrorism.”
“We are dedicated to bringing justice for the imam’s family,” said Stephens, who called it a “dastardly crime.”
The United States Transportation Security Administration earlier confirmed that Sharif had worked as a security screener at Newark Airport since 2016.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing and send our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,” said a TSA spokeswoman, Lisa Farbstein.
Images published by the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations showed police vehicles deployed outside the Masjid Muhammad-Newark, a two-storey yellow and green complex.
In a statement, CAIR described Sharif as “a beacon of leadership and excellence.”
“As always, and irrespective of this specific incident, we advise all mosques to keep their doors open but remain cautious especially given the recent spike in anti-Muslim bigotry,” the organisation said.
