Incident Summary:

08/13/2016: Assailants opened fire on an Imam, Maulama Akonjee, and his assistant, Thara Uddin, in Queens, New York City, United States. Akonjee and Uddin were killed in the attack. No group claimed responsibility, though authorities arrested Oscar Morel in connection with the incident.

GTD ID:
201608130021

When:
2016-08-13

Country:
United States

Region:
North America

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

New York

City:
New York City

Location Details:
The incident occurred at Liberty Ave and 79th street in the Ozone Park area of Queens.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Not Applicable
Specific Description Civilian: Thara Uddin
Nationality of Target United States
Target Type: Religious Figures/Institutions
Name of Entity Unknown
Specific Description Imam: Maulama Akonjee
Nationality of Target United States
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage No
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) No
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) Yes
Alternate Designation (more) Other Crime Type
Additional Information There is doubt that this incident meets terrorism-related criteria. Sources suspected that the assailant may have carried out the attack to avenge members of the Hispanic community allegedly killed by Muslims.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Unknown No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 1
Number of Captured Perpetrators 1
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 2 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 2
Number of U.S. Fatalities Unknown
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"New York imam, his assistant killed near mosque," CNN, August 13, 2016.
"Suspected Queens shooter of Imam and friend nabbed...," New York Daily News, August 17, 2016.
"Imam, assistant shot dead outside New York mosque," The Nation Pakistan, August 15, 2016.