February 11, 2015

The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is shocked and saddened by the cold-blooded killings of three young American Muslim students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The three young people were shot execution style by a self-proclaimed Atheist while they were in their home.

SEE: 3 Muslim Students Murdered in North Carolina (TIME)

“MPAC expresses its deepest condolences to the families in this tragic time as they grieve the loss of these three young people," Salam Al-Marayati President of MPAC. "We also express our condolences to the American Muslim community and urge them to be vigilant at this time as the facts of this case are made public."

MPAC urges the FBI and the Department of Justice to open an immediate investigation and consider this a terrorist attack if the motives of the shooter are confirmed based on his previous social media posts. There is an intentional effort on the case of federal authorities to understand the issue of violent extremism and this case illustrates that violent extremism is not the product of only one community.

MPAC calls on all law enforcement agencies both federal and local police departments to increase security and coordination with houses of worship and local institutions. MPAC will work with law enforcement to help bolster security.