5 Arrested After Mass Shooting in Philadelphia
- AP Photo/Matt Rourke
United States – The happiness celebration of Eid al-Fitr in Clara Muhammad Square, Philadelphia, United States (US), suddenly turned into panic after a mass shooting erupted between rival groups.
Philadelphia police stated that the Eid al-Fitr event held outside the large mosque in the Parkside neighborhood of the city was abruptly halted when around 30 shots were heard on Wednesday (Apr 10), at 2:30 p.m. local time.
Witnesses described that during the incident, event participants ran to the tents set up near the park, took cover behind trees, and descended to the sidewalks to avoid the gunfire. Others ran into nearby schools and mosques, frantically searching for children and loved ones.
In this incident, authorities reported that five individuals were detained, including a 15-year-old boy. Police stated that the boy was carrying a pistol and was taken to the hospital after being shot in the leg and shoulder by police.
Additionally, police mentioned that a man was shot in the stomach, and a teenager suffered injuries to the hand.
During a press conference, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel confirmed that a police vehicle responding to a 911 call struck a 15-year-old girl fleeing from the park. According to Bethel, the child sustained leg injuries.
Authorities said nearly 1,000 people attended the event, "Ninety-nine percent of the people attending this event are good people who just want to have fun,"
Bethel informed that the motive for the shooting was unclear. The suspects are 5; four men and one woman.