Shock as imam and friend shot dead leaving New York mosque

The leader of a New York City mosque and a friend have been shot dead in a brazen broad daylight attack as they left afternoon prayers.

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.