Police in Queens, NY are searching for a trio of people who attacked a 59-year-old man who was riding his bicycle outside a mosque.
According to CBS New York, a witness saw three people follow Mohamed Rasheed Khan out of the Islamic Studies Center of Jamaica, Queens and attack him as he tried to ride away on a bicycle.
The New York Daily News said that the attack took place around 10:30 p.m. last Wednesday.
Ramazan Alli told CBS News he found Khan's unconscious body and called police.
“And I keep shaking him and telling him, I keep telling him to stay with me, stay with me,” Alli said.
Khan was beaten so badly that he was unable to speak. He suffered a concussion and multiple facial injuries and is reportedly bleeding internally and fighting for his life in a local hospital. Alli said that he believes the attack was a hate crime because Khan was wearing traditional Islamic clothing.
Khan's relatives are reportedly heartbroken.
“My uncle is an American citizen that did not deserve this and he is very humble and doesn’t bother anybody,” said niece Asha Deopersaud. “He was coming to pray and Islam is all about love and caring for others. The criminals who did this don’t identify with that.”
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