NEW YORK – Police in New York say an imam and his assistant were shot dead as they walked along a street in the borough of Queens.

The men were approached from behind by a man who shot them both in the head, a police spokesman said.

Imam Maulama Akonjee, 55, moved to the city from Bangladesh two years ago, reports in New York said.

Police said there were as yet “no indications” the men were targeted because of their faith.

The imam and the second man, who is aged 64, were shot a short walk from a large mosque in Queens at about 1:50 p.m.

Hate crime against people who appear to be Muslim has been on the rise. 

Reports say a number of people from the nearby Muslim community have gathered at the scene to demonstrate, saying the shooting was a hate crime, although police said they were still investigating the motive.

“That’s not what America is about,” said local resident Khairul Islam, 33 told the NY Daily News. “We blame Donald Trump for this … Trump and his drama has created Islamophobia.”

A man holding a gun was seen leaving the scene of the shooting, but no-one has been arrested.