A New Jersey imam was fatally shot outside a Newark mosque early Wednesday morning. The authorities have not identified a suspect or determined a motive for the attack, as indicated by local prosecutors.
At an afternoon briefing, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin mentioned that, based on the evidence gathered thus far, there is no indication that the shooting was motivated by bias or constituted an act of domestic terrorism.
Platkin’s office typically wouldn’t disclose such information at this early stage, but he cited the recent increase in bias incidents against various faiths, particularly the Muslim community, as the reason for doing so.
The victim, Imam Hassan Sharif, was fatally shot multiple times shortly after 6 a.m. while in his vehicle outside the Masjid Muhammad mosque in Newark, according to Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens during Wednesday’s press conference. Sharif succumbed to his injuries later that afternoon at a local hospital.
“There are many in New Jersey right now who are feeling a heightened sense of fear,” Platkin said.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued security guidance for faith-based communities in December, following a surge in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents across the United States since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the Israeli military response in Gaza.
The guidance includes recommendations such as developing a security plan, designating an individual or committee for security, conducting risk assessments, coordinating with the local community, and identifying available resources.
Since Oct. 7, authorities have beefed up the presence of law enforcement at all houses of worship in New Jersey, but especially mosques and synagogues, Platkin said.
New Jersey Public Safety Director Fritz Frage reiterated the statements made by Platkin and Stephens, emphasizing that, as of now, there is no evidence indicating bias motivation in the shooting. He mentioned that investigators are actively pursuing all leads in their ongoing probe of the incident.
