Police in Albuquerque, New Mexico have announced the arrest and charging of a man in connection with the murder of two Muslim men.
Since November, four Muslim men have been murdered in the city, and authorities suspect the detained individual may also be linked to the other two killings.
On Tuesday, August 9, police identified Muhammed Syed, a 51-year-old from Afghanistan, as the “primary suspect in the recent murders of Muslim men.”
The police have charged Syed with the murders of Aftab Hussein on July 26 and Muhammad Afzaal Hussian on Aug. 1. Investigation linked the two cases through recovered bullet casings at the respective scenes.
Furthermore, authorities are still probing Syed’s potential involvement in the homicides of Naeem Hussain on Aug. 5 and Mohammed Zaher Ahmadi on Nov. 7.
Following a public tip, law enforcement located Syed. When they attempted to search his Albuquerque residence, he reportedly fled in a Volkswagen, a vehicle that had been identified by police as connected to the murders.
During the search of his house, authorities claim to have discovered multiple firearms, including one believed to have been used in the two murders for which he has been charged.
“We tracked down the vehicle believed to be involved in a recent murder of a Muslim man in Albuquerque,” wrote Police Chief Harold Medina on Twitter. “The driver was detained and he is our primary suspect for the murders.”