Rival 'factions' of 'young people' exchange gunfire in crowd of 1,000 gathered for Muslim celebration in Philadelphia: Police

Rival 'factions' of 'young people' exchange gunfire in crowd of 1,000 gathered for Muslim celebration in Philadelphia: Police



A celebration near a Philadelphia park to mark the end of Ramadan, a month of daily fasting for Muslims, turned violent when members of rival "factions" began shooting at one other despite the crowd.

On Wednesday afternoon, an estimated 1,000 people gathered in and around Clara Muhammad Square in West Philadelphia for an Eid al-Fitr event. Families put up tents as people of all ages, including babies, enjoyed the beautiful spring day together.

Suddenly, around 2:30 p.m., people at the event began shooting at one another. Some police officers happened to be issuing parking tickets at a nearby gas station when the gunfire erupted. The officers guessed that 30 shots were fired, sending the celebration attendees into a panic.

"I just saw everybody just running and frantic," recalled one witness. "The kids, people's strollers getting turned over, everybody screaming."

"Everybody just ran away like it was an elephant stampede."

A total of four people were reportedly injured as a result of the incident. Nhashon "Tawfiq" Richards, 22, was shot in the stomach during the exchange of gunfire. His father, Corey Taylor, said that while Richards is stable and alert, he will likely need surgery.

Two teens suffered gunshot wounds as well. One teen who attended the event arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound to the hand, likely during the incident, and is in stable condition.

Then, a 15-year-old boy who was reportedly carrying a rifle was shot in the shoulder and leg by a police officer after he allegedly ignored two commands to drop his weapon. After the officer discharged her weapon, she quickly corralled the boy into her police cruiser and drove him to the hospital. His is now in stable condition, and his weapon was reportedly recovered. The officer has been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation into the shooting.

Finally, a 15-year-old girl attempting to flee the area suffered a broken leg when she was accidentally struck by a police vehicle. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel claimed that members of the department have offered their prayers for her continued healing and will soon visit with the girl's family.

Thankfully, despite the number of shots fired and the chaos that ensued, there were no fatalities.

Though Police Commissioner Bethel is grateful there were not more casualties, he is frustrated that a happy event attended mainly by "good people who wanted to have a good time" was spoiled by "two factions" who were "beefing and going at each other."

"Once again, we have young people engaging in gunfire who just really destroyed the sanctity of what happened," he claimed.

Corey Taylor, the father of shooting victim Tawfiq Richards, also condemned the unnecessary violence. He claimed people need to "stop hating one another over what someone else got or dislike over a female or some type of hood affiliation or whatever.

"It’s stupid. And it’s nonsense," Taylor continued. "People’s lives are priceless. Appreciate and value your life."

Police arrested a total of five individuals, including the 15-year-old allegedly with the rifle, in connection with the incident. Four other males and one female were apprehended as they attempted to escape the area. Police reportedly confiscated a total of four weapons.

Bethel cautioned that the details he shared at the press conference are preliminary and subject to "change." An investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

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Biden White House cancels Ramadan event after too many Muslim leaders reject invitation because of war in Gaza: Report



The Biden administration was forced to cancel an annual Ramadan celebration after too many Muslim leaders rejected the invitation to attend because of the continuing war in Gaza, reports say.

This week, the White House had intended to host an iftar, an evening meal held during Ramadan that breaks the daily fast from sunrise to sunset, providing the president an opportunity to meet with members of the Muslim community and discuss issues that impact them. The event has been so popular during the Biden administration that last year, one of the attendees spontaneously shouted, "We love you!" before Biden even began his remarks, the AP reported.

However, this year, that iftar had to be pared back and then ultimately canceled in favor of a private celebration for members of the administration on Tuesday evening. To explain the dramatic change, many have pointed to Biden's support for Israel following the October 7 attacks as hostilities in the region continue.

"It’s inappropriate to do such a celebration while there’s a famine going on in Gaza," said Wa’el Alzayat, a leader of the Muslim advocacy group Emgage who attended the iftar at the White House last year.

"We’re just in a different world. It’s completely surreal, and it’s sad," Alzayat continued.

"The American Muslim community said very early on that it would be completely unacceptable for us to break bread with the very same White House that is enabling the Israeli government to starve and slaughter the Palestinian people in Gaza," added Edward Ahmed Mitchell, deputy director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Despite the iftar debacle, the White House did hold a separate business meeting with some Muslim leaders. However, that meeting also revealed simmering tensions between Muslims and the administration as well. An emergency medicine doctor from Chicago even walked out of the meeting because he was "the only Palestinian" in attendance. "Out of respect for my community, I’m going to leave," he said.

Neither the private iftar nor the meeting with Muslim leaders appeared on the president's public schedule, and members of the press were not permitted to "capture" either event, a break from previous custom, the AP said.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre claimed Biden hosted the meeting because "community leaders expressed the preference" for a "working group meeting" where he could "get feedback from them." As to the canceled iftar, Jean-Pierre stated, "The president is going to continue his tradition of honoring the Muslim community during Ramadan."

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FACT CHECK: No, France Has Not Banned Halal Slaughter

'This is based on a decision from the French Ministry of Agriculture that clarified certain regulations. It did not ban ritual slaughter. The claim has been circulating since 2021'

Police: Grisly throat-slashing and knife attack in western Canada was ISIS terrorism



The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have charged a 28-year-old with terrorism in connection with an ISIS-linked attack outside Vancouver, British Columbia.

The suspect, Abdul Aziz Kawam, allegedly flashed a large knife around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at a bus stop near the Fraser Highway and 148 Street in Surrey, reported Global News.

Metro Vancouver Transit Police constable Amanda Steed told Canadian state media that at the bus stop, the suspected terrorist "brandished the knife, holding it to the victim's throat."

"That victim was able to break free and run away. And then the suspect ran from there and boarded the bus with the second victim at 156th and Fraser. They both boarded at the same place," said Steed.

Police say that aboard the Coast Mountain bus, carrying around 20 people, Kawam stabbed a passenger in the neck, ostensibly at random and without provocation.

Despite an open neck, the victim fought back and managed to boot the suspect out the back doors of the bus.

The victim was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, but is expected to make a full recovery. According to a nurse at the hospital, the victim only survived because the knife's edge had been too dull.

The Vancouver Sun reported that the second victim was an off-duty bus driver.

Kawam was initially charged with attempted murder, assault with a weapon, and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

As his alleged remarks during the attacks were suggestive of an Islamist rationale, the MVTP ultimately reached out to the RCMP-led Integrated National Security Enforcement Team.

"During the course of our investigation, it was determined that the suspect made quite a few concerning statements, which is why we notified the RCMP INSET," said Steed. "So they have taken on an investigation as well. And we’re working with them. But from here on, they will be in charge of the investigation and they have forwarded their own charges along with ours."

Prosecutors added four counts of terrorism on Monday, alleging Kawam attacked Canadians "for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a terrorist group, to wit: the Islamic State."

If convicted of the terrorism charges, Kawam faces a maximum of life in prison.
Kawam remains in custody and is set to appear in court on Wednesday.

There was another possible Canadian run-in with ISIS at the beginning of Ramadan.

On March 23, the RCMP arrested Mohamed Amine Assal, 18, in the province of Quebec on suspicion that he was planning to commit a terrorism offense. The FBI had tipped off Canadian authorities to the possible threat.

The Montreal Gazette reported that Assal is suspected of facilitating and counseling terrorist acts. An FBI source indicated that Assal may have been groomed along with six others by an ISIS supporter in Italy to "conduct attacks."

Kawam's alleged attack is also not the first daylight stabbing in a public place in recent days.

This possible terror attack comes just days after 37-year-old Paul Stanley Schmidt was brutally stabbed to death in front of his wife and kids outside a Vancouver Starbucks. Schmidt had reportedly asked the murderer responsible not to vape in front of his baby girl.

In the wake of Schmidt's murder and the Surrey terror attack, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said leftist Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "has unleashed a crime wave like we have never seen in this country."

Weekend knife attack on BC bus was ISIS terrorism, RCMP alleges youtu.be

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