The New York Police Department have released a sketch of the man connected to the shooting of an imam and his assistant as they left a mosque in the city on Saturday. 13 August. Police said they are asking for the public's help in identifying the man.

Police said that from witnesses and surveillance footage they thought the man was of medium complexion and was last seen wearing a dark coloured shirt and blue shorts.

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Around 1.50pm local time, NYPD responded to multiple calls of a shooting on the corner of Liberty Avenue and 79 Street. 55-year-old imam,

Imam Maulama Akonjee, 55, and Thara Uddin, 64, were both found with gunshot wounds to the head. Both men were pronounced dead at Jamaica Hospital.

The victims were shot as they left the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque in Queens after performing afternoon prayers.

Police said the man was seen fleeing southbound with witnesses saying he was holding a gun. The sketch shows a dark haired man with glasses and a beard.

Police are not yet sure what the motive behind the murder was but some people who gathered in the area after the incident told the New York Daily News that they thought it was a hate crime.

NYPD sketch of imam shooting suspect
A sketch released by police of a man they believe is connected to the shooting NYPD