New Delhi (Sputnik): Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted that the shooting of three Indian-Americans and a visiting family member, which took place near Cincinnati, Ohio, wasn't a hate related crime.
READ MORE: Sinister Nature of White Supremacy in Religious Attacks; Security Not Enough
Indian Ambassador in United States @IndianEmbassyUS has informed me about the killing of four persons in Cincinnati on Sunday evening. One of them was an Indian national on a visit to US while others were persons of Indian origin. /1
— Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 30, 2019
The matter is under investigation by the Police but it is not a hate crime. Our Consul General in New York is coordinating with the concerned authorities and will keep me informed me on this. @IndiainNewYork /2
— Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 30, 2019
The clarification given by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was made because just a few days ago, African-American war veteran Isaiah Peoples mowed down eight people of Indian origin in Sunnyvale, California, mistaking them for Muslims. Among the injured was a 13-year-old girl named Drishti, who went into a coma and had to get part of her skull removed to reduce intracranial pressure.
READ MORE:Hate Crimes Against Indians Have Risen in US Over Past Year — Community Leader
Media reports of the California attack cited Sunnyvale police chief Phan Ngo as saying that the driver of the car, Isaiah Peoples, "intentionally targeted the victims based on their race and his belief that they were of the Muslim faith".
