Utah Mosque Leader Survives Ambush Shooting During Ramadan
In a shocking incident that has rattled the local community, a prominent Muslim leader in Utah narrowly escaped harm after being ambushed outside his home during the holy month of Ramadan. Imam Shuaib Din, the leader of Utah's largest mosque, was targeted in a shooting attack on Monday evening, with the suspect identified as Abdul Raouf Afridi.
Arrest Made in Connection with Shooting
The Sandy Police Department announced on Saturday that they had arrested Afridi in connection with the attempted shooting. The suspect faces twelve counts of aggravated assault, including felony discharge of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, dangerous discharge of a weapon from a vehicle, and possession of a dangerous weapon as a prohibited person.
According to police reports, Afridi had been waiting for Imam Din to enter or leave his home after sunset prayers. The gunman, wearing a mask and hoodie, opened fire as Din pulled out of his garage to return to his mosque for 7:45 PM prayers. Despite multiple shots being fired, all of them missed the cleric.
Community Response and Investigation
The Utah Islamic Center has urged the community to avoid speculation about the motive behind the attack. Sergeant Michael Olsen of the Sandy Police Department described the incident as "a shock to the community" and noted that such events are "not something that typically happens in" the city.
Imam Din, whose mosque is located in the West Jordan community near the border of Sandy, told the Salt Lake Tribune that the attacker clearly knew his house, car, and schedule. After the initial shots, Din followed the gunman to try to get his license plate, but the suspect pulled alongside him and fired eight more shots. The bullets passed through the front and back seats as well as the windshield of Din's vehicle.
Possible Hate Crime Investigation
In an interview with KSL-TV, Imam Din expressed bewilderment about who might want to harm him, suggesting it was "likely someone outside my community." He added, "I can't think of anyone who would want to hurt me so it makes sense to investigate this as a possible hate crime."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations has offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect. The organization has also called for increased police protection for the cleric and the broader Muslim community.
Political Leaders Express Concern
Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski and the Sandy City Council issued a statement expressing that they were "deeply troubled" by the shooting, particularly noting that it occurred during Ramadan, a sacred time of prayer, reflection, and peace for Muslims worldwide.
"While the motive remains under investigation, we cannot ignore that this occurred during ... a time of prayer, reflection and peace for Muslims around the world," the mayor and council wrote on social media. "That makes this especially unsettling for our community ... To our Muslim residents and neighbors: You are valued members of Sandy. We stand with you."
The local district attorney's office has not yet filed formal charges, and the case remains under active investigation as authorities work to determine the full circumstances and motivation behind this alarming attack.
