Arab Americans In Queens Condemn Libya Consulate Attack, Struggle To Understand Motivations
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- In Astoria, home to people of multiple Middle Eastern descents, news of the four Americans killed at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya was stunning in its impact.
"They must...[be] out of their minds of course," Rania Nekaa said.
Nekaa, who is from Algeria, Libya's neighbor, told CBS 2's Sean Hennessey the incident was truly senseless.
"They don't have any point of view. They just kill each other. I don't know what's wrong with them, really," she said.
"It's very bad. It's very bad," Ahmed Dlesspeh added.
The murders of the U.S. citizens, including Chris Stevens, the American ambassador credited with saving the Libyan city of Benghazi during last year's revolution, had some wondering, why?
"This poor ambassador that did so much for Libya," Khadijah Muhammad said.
"He helped everybody. How much America helped the Libyans and they killed the embassy and they killed the people who work in the embassy, it's not good," said Saleh Saleh, who is originally from Egypt.
While it's unclear what the motive was, those of the Islamic faith said the attack gives their religion a bad name, once again.
"Islam you don't say it to kill the people without reason. I feel very sorry for that," Ferid el Begedei said.
The Council on American Islamic Relations condemned the attack.
"This is not a reflection of the Egyptian people, not a reflection of the Libyan people and definitely not a reflection of Muslims," CAIR-NY Executive Director Muneer Awad said.
Some in Astoria said they are convinced the killings were just another way to hurt to United States, especially since they happened on 9/11.
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