A Connecticut point out representative was assaulted after attending a service marking Eid al-Adha in downtown Hartford on Wednesday, law enforcement and officials reported.
“My coronary heart is with Rep. Maryam Khan who was attacked right now immediately after attending Eid al-Adha solutions with her household,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement shared on Twitter.
“It is disturbing to me that this occurred on a holy working day intended to be marked with peaceful prayer,” he explained.
Khan’s office environment did not quickly react to a request for comment from NBC Information.
Hartford police informed NBC Connecticut that a 30-year-outdated man discovered as Andrey Desmond, of New Britain, had been arrested in link with the incident.
Officers ended up originally called to the downtown Hartford area at about 11 a.m. ET just after acquiring a report that a guy experienced assaulted a lady, law enforcement reported. They arrived to uncover the man experienced been detained by civilian bystanders and afterwards arrested him.
Police mentioned the suspect was alleged to have approached Khan and made undesired innovations. He was then alleged to have tried to stop the official from leaving and assaulted her.
The suspect tried to flee, but was chased and held down by a different worshipper, police reported. Khan experienced insignificant accidents and was evaluated by healthcare personnel at the scene, authorities said.
Police said Desmond faces charges including third-diploma assault, illegal restraint, breach of peace and interfering with law enforcement.
Any likely motive in the attack was not immediately very clear.
Farhan Memon, chair of the the Connecticut Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) urged regional, condition and federal authorities to “examine a probable bias motive for this attack and to assure the protection of the Connecticut Muslim local community throughout the ongoing Eid al-Adha celebrations.”
“All too normally we have witnessed American Muslims, or these perceived to be Muslim, targeted by dislike due to the fact of their attire, race or ethnicity,” Memon said.
He mentioned that the Eid al-Adha prayer provider at the XL Centre in Hartford was the most significant accumulating of Muslims in modern years and warranted a heightened law enforcement existence, noting past attacks towards houses of worships and Muslims in the U.S. He claimed the Muslim neighborhood experienced to use two off-duty officers at their very own expense.
“Offered the measurement and prominence of the event more officers should really have been present,” Memon claimed.
Connecticut House Speaker Matt Ritter and Greater part Leader Jason Rojas said Condition Capitol Police experienced “confident us they will function with Hartford Police to carry out a whole and complete investigation.”
“It is primarily distressing that Rep. Khan was attacked on a holy night time of peace and prayer. On a night she should really be expending with her friends and spouse and children,” they stated.
Indicating the “Feast of the Sacrifice,” Eid al-Adha, which started on Wednesday, is a joyous celebration marked by distinctive prayers and feasts.
Lamont mentioned the details of the assault were “still unfolding,” but he stated: “I know our legislation enforcement staff will conduct a thorough investigation into what occurred.”
Khan was elected for the duration of a 2022 particular election in March to signify the 5th District, serving Hartford and Windsor, and is the initially Muslim member of the Connecticut Dwelling, according to a biography on the Connecticut Household Democrats’ web-site. She was re-elected previous November to provide her to start with total legislative time period.
She lives in Windsor, just less than 10 miles north of Hartford, with her husband and 3 children, according to the biography.
“Rep. Khan is a focused general public servant who cares deeply about passing legislation that uplifts her constituents in Hartford and Windsor. I’m keeping her and her beloved types in my views,” Lamont reported.
