Man Arrested and Charged in Murders of Muslim Men in Albuquerque

Thanks to tips from the surrounding community, 51-year-old Muhammad Syed was arrested Tuesday in connection with the murders of four Muslim men in Albuquerque.

As police prepared to search Syed’s home in southeast Albuquerque, Syed fled in his Volkswagen Jetta. Police believe his Jetta was used in at least one of the murders.

Syed was arrested Monday in Santa Rosa, New Mexico during a traffic stop more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) away from his home. Quickly after his arrested, he was charged with killing Aftab Hussein and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain. He has become the prime suspect in the murders of Naeem Hussain and Mohammad Ahmadi according to the Associated Press.

After Syed’s arrest, police executed a search warrant and discovered additional evidence tying him to the murders. Police also recovered two weapons believed to have been used in the murders.

During a news conference Tuesday, police addressed rumors that Syed may have targeted the four men because they were Shia Muslims, but they are still exploring other motives. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) released a statement saying that they “strongly condemn the anti-Shia hatred that may have motivated the killings.”

Syed, an Afghan immigrant, has lived in the United States for five years. The investigation into the murders remains active as they try to definitively find a motive for their murders.