Imam among two men killed in shooting near New York mosque

New York: An imam and another unidentified male were both shot in the head and killed in New York, police said, in an attack with unclear motives.

Gunshots rang out just before 2:00 pm (local time) yesterday near a mosque in the Ozone Park neighbourhood of Queens.

Both men were taken to nearby Jamaica Hospital, where imam Maulama Akonjee, 55, was pronounced dead, a spokesman with New York's Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information told AFP.

The unidentified male, age 64, later succumbed to his injuries, the spokesman said.

Police said the motive is unknown.

"There is nothing in the preliminary investigation to indicate that they were targeted because of their faith," police told journalists.

The two men were approached from behind by an at-large suspect, who witnesses saw fleeing from the scene with a gun after the shooting, according to police.