‘Primary suspect’ arrested in killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque
Four Muslim men were killed in what police called a possible string of murders.
Police have arrested a ‘primary suspect’ in connection with the murders of four Muslim men in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Investigators followed a Volkswagen sedan with tinted windows detained the driver, the Albuquerque Police Department announced on Tuesday afternoon.
‘We tracked down the vehicle believed to be involved in a recent murder of a Muslim man in Albuquerque,’ stated Police Chief Harold Medina.
‘The driver was detained and he is our primary suspect for the murders.’
Four Muslim men of South Asian descent have been murdered since the fall. The most recent killing happened just before midnight on Friday, when Nameen Hussain, 25, of Pakistan, was fatally shot in the International District, southeast of the downtown.
Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, was discovered fatally shot on August 1, and Aftab Hussein, 41, was found dead on July 26. Both were from Pakistan. The body of Mohammed Ahmadi, 62, of Afghanistan, was found in November in a parking lot behind a halal meat business he operated with his brother. Cops are investigating whether the murders are linked.
Police issued an alert on Sunday for a dark gray or silver Volkswagen sedan that appeared to be a Jetta, with tinted windows, that ‘is suspected of being used as conveyance in recent homicides of 4 Muslim men’.
After the arrest announcement, Mayor Tim Keller thanked federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
‘We hope their swift action brings an increased sense of safety for so many who are experiencing fear from the recent shootings,’ stated Keller.
Meanwhile, Ahmadi’s brother, Sharief Hadi, said he was still waiting for word from local authorities about the arrest.
‘I am still waiting for my hope because I have none,’ Hadi told NBC News. ‘Nobody knows what’s going on right now. I want to make sure 100%.’
Police are expected to provide more updates on the arrested suspect on Tuesday afternoon.
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