THE MINISTRY of Foreign Affairs confirmed that no Indonesian citizens (WNI) were victims of shootings in Philadelphia, United States (US), Wednesday (10/4). The incident which injured three people occurred during Eid al-Fitr celebrations.
“The shooting incident occurred in Philadelphia on Wednesday (10/4), near the Eid al-Fitr prayers. The Indonesian Consulate General (Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia) in New York has coordinated with local authorities and the Indonesian community in Philadelphia. To date there have been no Indonesian victims from the incident “said the Director General of Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Indonesian Legal Entities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha in his statement, Thursday (11/4).
According to him, the number of Indonesian citizens recorded in the self-report data of the Indonesian Consulate General in New York in Philadelphia is around five thousand people. The majority reside in south Philadelphia, while the incident occurred in west Philadelphia.
Eid al-Fitr celebrations that should have been full of joy turned into panic in Philadelphia, USA. A group of people exchanged fire, causing three people to be injured and hundreds of parents and children to flee.
The annual Eid al-Fitr event held at a large mosque in the city’s Parkside neighborhood was disrupted. The Eid al-Fitr celebration procession had to end when around 30 shots were heard at around 14.30 local time.
A total of five people were later detained, including a 15-year-old boy who suffered injuries to his legs and shoulders. He was shot by the police because he was carrying a gun.
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“A man was shot in the stomach and a teenage victim suffered a wound to the hand,” said a local police statement.
The police are investigating the incident at Clara Muhammad Square. A witness, Zania Weatherford, heard gunshots and saw people running across the street.
“Last year, someone set off firecrackers and scared everyone. This is simply a celebration of life so that God will forgive our sins. “There was a month where God chained the devil, so whoever did this can’t blame the devil,” Weatherford continued.
According to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, the motive for the shooting is not yet clear. The suspects include four men and a woman.
Eid al-Fitr is an important day for Muslims around the world to celebrate victory following a month of fasting. (Toronto Star/Z-3)
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