The Albuquerque Police Department said Tuesday they have detained a 51-year-old man that is the “primary suspect” in the fatal shootings of two Muslim men in New Mexico’s largest city.
Driving the news: Four Muslim men were shot and killed in recent months in New Mexico — the fourth killing happening last Friday. Police said Muhammad Syed was allegedly directly involved in at least two of the killings, while detectives are still determining if Syed is tied to the other slayings.
The department’s announced Friday that at least two of the killings are connected.
- Police have been investigating whether the shootings are connected while asking the public to help find the suspects.
- The chief of the Albuquerque Police Department said on Twitter it tracked down the vehicle “believed to be involved in a recent murder of a Muslim man,” who is “our primary suspect” for the killings.
- Albuquerque police did not immediately respond to Axios’ request for information.
The big picture: Police said the recent killings may be targeting men of Middle Eastern descent, which has prompted fears among the Muslim community in New Mexico.
- The first shooting happened on Nov. 7 when Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, was killed, per the Albuquerque Journal.
- Two other men, Muhammed Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, were killed in the last two weeks.
- 25-year-old Naeem Hussain was shot late Friday outside of an organization that offers services for refugees and asylum seekers, Axios’ Erin Doherty reports.
Go deeper … Everything we know about the Albuquerque shootings of 4 Muslim men
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