A victim was shot at a Houston mosque before entering for his morning prayer.
Advertisement
A Muslim doctor in the U.S. state of Texas has been shot and stabbed while on his way to a mosque for morning prayers, local reports said.
The doctor will remain in Intensive Care Unit for at least 24 hours as he was shot twice; however, doctors say he is expected to survive.
Mohammed Imaduddin, a spokesperson for the Madrasah Islamiah mosque, says Dr. Arslan Tajammul had parked his vehicle along the street and was walking toward the building for morning prayers at around 5:30 A.M. when he was approached by three masked assailants on foot. The gunmen fled on foot after the attack.
The victim was able to ask for help near the mosque entrance, as the the attackers made their escape, witnesses told authorities.
Police also said the motive for the attack was not known.
The incident comes the day after another Muslim man was beaten outside of a mosque in Florida.
Taylor Anthony Mazzanti, 25, was arrested in the attack and was charged with felony battery, the sheriff’s office said.
The victim in that case was punched in the head and face outside the Fort Pierce Islamic Center just after 4 a.m. (0800 GMT) on Saturday, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff Ken Mascara said he doesn’t believe this attack was racially motivated.
Advertisement
The Islamic Center’s imam had requested extra security in the wake of last month’s mass shooting by Omar Mateen at the Orlando gay nightclub Pulse. We learned from those who worship at the mosque that the victim only recently got married, and lives in the area.
