Three Palestinian students in the US state of Vermont sustained injuries after they were shot, US police confirmed.
Sources reported that three Palestinian students Hisham Ali Awartani, Tahseen Nael Ali, and Kinan Mohsen Abdel Hamid, who study at American universities, were exposed to an armed attack while they were in the city of Burlington, Vermont, adding that they were admitted to the intensive care unit in the same city.
Initial reports stated that this attack was classified as a hate crime and based on a racist background due to the three students wearing the Palestinian keffiyeh and speaking Arabic.
The Ramallah Friends School, from which the three students graduated, condemend the attack and said they ‘are deeply distressed by the recent incident involving three of our graduates who were shot and injured last evening in Burlington, VT.’
“While we are relieved to know that they are alive, we remain uncertain about their condition and hold them in the light. We extend our thoughts and prayers to th
em and their families for a full recovery, especially considering the severity of injuries-as Hisham has been shot in the back, Tahseen in the chest, and Kinnan with minor injuries,” the school said.
“All three are students study at US universities; Hisham studies at Brown University, Kinnan studies at Haverford University, and Tahseen studies at Trinity College. We stand united in hope and support for their well-being during this challenging time,” the school added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned in the strongest terms the shooting crime against the three Palestinian students.
The Ministry called on the American authorities to quickly arrest the criminal, investigate him, hold him accountable, and inform them of the results of the investigations, wishing a speedy recovery for the students.
On October 16, a Palestinian child and his mother were stabbed in the town of Plainfield, Illinois, by a 71-year-old man, who killed the child and seriously injured the mother.
The police ac
cused the man of committing a hate crime against the child, 6, and his mother, 32, saying that the two victims were targeted because of their Islamic faith.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA