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| New Mexico: Citizens participate in an August 9 memorial service at the New Mexico Islamic Center following the killing of four Muslims. (Photo: Reuters) |
The police have arrested a man from Afghanistan for the murder of two of the four Muslims killed in the city.
Albuquerque police in the American state of New Mexico have arrested a man from Afghanistan for the murder of two of the four Muslims killed in the city.
According to the Associated Press (AP) news agency, a 51-year-old Afghan national has been identified as the prime suspect.
The accused was taken into custody a day ago after a chase of more than 100 miles.
According to Police Chief Harold Medna, it is not yet clear whether the deaths will be classified as hate crimes or serial killings.
Police said investigators received a tip from the city's Muslim community pointing to the suspect, who has been living in the US for about five years.
Police are probing possible motives behind the killing, including a 'communal conflict'. The police chief was also asked about any communal element after the arrest, but he did not give a direct answer.
Ahmad Asad, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, cautioned against drawing any conclusions about the suspect's motives at this time. He said that the accused used to come to the center's mosque 'from time to time'.
After the arrest was announced, Muhammad Imtiaz Hussain, the brother of one of the victims, Muhammad Afzal Hussain, said he was relieved but wanted to know more about the suspect and his motive.
He said that with this we hope that (the truth) will come before us. We want to know why this happened.
It was not immediately clear whether the accused has a lawyer available.
The suspect was formally charged with two murders: Aftab Hussain, 41, and Mohammad Afzal Hussain, 27, who were killed on July 26 and Aug. 1, respectively, Elbuquerque's police chief said at a conference, according to Reuters. But he is considered a suspect in all four murders. Both the victims belonged to Pakistan.
Officials say that bullet casings found at the scene of the killing of Aftab Hussain and Muhammad Afzal Hussain are related to the gun found in the house of the accused.
Police said they were about to search the suspect's home in Elbuquerque on Monday when they saw him get into a car. Police believe the vehicle has been used in at least one murder.
Officers followed him to Santa Rosa, about 110 miles east of Elbuquerque, where they arrested him. Police said that several weapons were recovered from his house and car.
According to the authorities, the sons of the accused have been released after questioning.
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