By Raul Castillo
Nov 26, 2023, 17:31 PM EST
Vermont police are searching for a suspect after three college students of Palestinian descent were shot in Burlington Saturday night. Emergency responders received reports of shots fired around 6:30 p.m., and police found two people injured at the scene and a third injured nearby, WCAX reported.
The students, identified as Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ahmed, were taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center, where they are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The Ramallah Friends School, alma mater of those affected, expressed its relief to know that they are alive but still maintains caution regarding their condition.
“While we are relieved to know they are alive, we remain unsure of their condition and are keeping them in the light,” the school said in a statement shared on Facebook.
“We extend our thoughts and prayers to them and their families for a full recovery, especially considering the severity of the injuries, as Hisham was shot in the back, Tahseen in the chest and Kinnan with minor injuries,” he added.
$10,000 reward
Haverford College condemned the incident and is in contact with the family of Abdalhamid, who was injured during the shooting.
Police have, so far, not identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the shooting.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator or perpetrators, considering the possibility of a partial motive related to anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hatred.
“These incidents come as Muslims, Arabs and Palestinians across the country report a rise in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab hatred since the escalation of violence in Palestine and Israel last month,” CAIR told The Messenger in a statement.
growing hatred
Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian Mission in the United Kingdom, condemned the attack and suggested that the students were attacked for wearing the keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity.
Zomlot compared this incident to the death of Palestinian-American girl Wadea Al-Fayoume, underscoring the need for protection for Palestinians.
CAIR noted a 216 percent increase in bias-related complaints since the start of escalating violence in Palestine and Israel in October. These events reflect the growing anti-Muslim and anti-Arab hatred, the organization reported.
The Burlington Police Department has not yet commented on the incident, creating uncertainty surrounding the ongoing investigation.
Shock at the fact
Bernie Sanders called on Sunday for an investigation into the events. The Vermont senator called the shooting “shocking” and “deeply disturbing” in a post on X.
“Hate has no place here or anywhere else,” Sanders said. “I look forward to a full investigation. “My thoughts are with them and their families.”
With information from The Messenger.
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