Shooting outside mosque in USA: Imam in critical condition

(Patria) - An imam was shot and seriously wounded on Wednesday morning outside a mosque in Newark, in the US state of New Jersey.

The shooting occurred at six in the morning, Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé told NBC.

A city spokesperson said the imam at the Muhammad-Newark mosque was shot. The person who opened the mosque's door told NBC that the victim is Imam Hassan Sharif.

The imam was transported to University Hospital in critical condition, a spokesperson said.

The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear, and the Newark Department of Public Safety stated that the incident remains under investigation.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations in New Jersey announced it is gathering information about the shooting.

"We are deeply concerned about this incident and pray for the imam's speedy recovery. Anyone with information about the shooting should contact local police immediately," the statement read.