New York mosque killings branded a hate crime

The shooting dead of a New York City mosque leader and a friend as they left afternoon prayers is being described as a hate crime by shocked members of the community.

The imam, father-of-seven Maulama Akonjee, 55, and Thara Uddin, 64, were shot in the head as they left the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque in the Ozone Park section of Queens shortly before 2pm on Saturday. Both men were later pronounced dead.

Police said no motive had been established and there was no reason to believe the men were shot because they were Muslim.