Man selling ‘Islamic goods’ shot and wounded outside Rhode Island mosque

Providence’s police chief, Oscar Perez, said the victim of the shooting was associated with the mosque. Photograph: José Luis Magaña/AP

A man reportedly selling Muslim goods outside a mosque in Rhode Island’s capital city was shot and wounded late on Friday morning, the local police chief said, prompting authorities to increase patrols in the area as they look for a suspect and a motive in the attack.

The shooting at the Islamic Center of Rhode Island in Providence occurred amid reported increases in Islamophobia and antisemitism across the US after war between Israel and Hamas erupted last month. But police would not immediately discuss whether they were focusing on any specific, possible reasons for the shooting.