Imam and associate fatally shot after leaving New York mosque

The leader of a New York City mosque and an associate were fatally shot in a brazen daylight attack as they left afternoon prayers Saturday.

Police said 55-year-old Imam Maulama Akonjee and his 64-year-old associate, Thara Uddin, were both shot in the back of the head as they left the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque in the Ozone Park section of Queens shortly before 2 p.m.

Both men were pronounced dead later Saturday, an administrator at Jamaica Hospital said.

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

“There’s nothing in the preliminary investigation to indicate that they were targeted because of their faith,” said Deputy Inspector Henry Sautner of the New York Police Department.

Sautner said video surveillance footage shows the victims were approached from behind by a man in a dark polo shirt and shorts who shot them and then fled with the gun still in his hand.

Members of the Bangladeshi community served by the mosque said they still want the shootings to be treated as a hate crime.

Scores of people attending a rally at the shooting site Saturday night chanted “We want justice!”

Sarah Sayeed, a member of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s staff who serves as a liaison to Muslim communities, attended the rally. “I understand the fear because I feel it myself,” she said. “I understand the anger. But it’s very important to mount a thorough investigation.”

Khaled Rahman, who also was there, said he believes the shootings were an attack “against our religion” and that he hopes police increase security around mosques.

Shahin Chowdhury, a worshiper at the mosque, said members of the community had felt animosity from others lately, with people cursing while passing the mosque. He said he had advised fellow community members to be careful walking around, especially when in traditional clothing.

He called the imam a “wonderful person” with a voice that made his Koran readings especially compelling.

Worshiper Millat Uddin said Akonjee had led the mosque for about two years and was a very pious man.

“The community’s heart is totally broken,” said Uddin, who is not related to Thara Uddin. “It’s a great misery. It’s a great loss to the community and it’s a great loss to the society.”

Neighbors also described Thara Uddin as a pious and thoughtful man who prayed five times a day and went to the mosque. While at home, they said, he would water his garden and one next door.

“A very honest, wise man ... [And] a very helpful guy,” said neighbor Mohammed Uddin, who also is not a relation of Thara Uddin’s.

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UPDATES:

7:00 p.m.: This article was updated with a description of the gunman and comments from neighbors.

6:35 p.m.: This article was updated to correct the spelling of one of the victim’s names and add comments from worshipers.

This article was originally published at 5:35 p.m.