Elham Asaad Buaras

A Muslim man on his way to morning prayers was shot and stabbed outside a mosque in Houston, Texas, on July 4.

Spokesperson for the Madrasah Islamiah Masjid Noor mosque near Bellaire, Mohammed Imaduddin, said the victim was a doctor, who had parked along the street before walking towards the mosque for the morning prayers.

Witnesses said the victim was approached by three masked men on foot before being stabbed without warning.One of the individuals pulled out a gun and shot him, before the three attackers fled from the scene.

“It is very scary right now given the current political climate,” said Imaduddin, adding that there were children outside at the time of the incident.

“From what I hear, this is the third incident this week in the Houston area involving a Muslim getting shot. This is a community place, we have kids that come here, we have people young and old come here.”

Investigators say the doctor was shot twice, and will remain in ICU for 24 hours, but is expected to survive his injuries.  There is no known motive known for the attack.

The incident comes the day after another Muslim man was beaten up outside a mosque in Florida.