CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte-area Muslims are concerned that the arrest of a Pakistani native seen videotaping the city's skyscrapers -- and how officials reacted -- could turn all Muslims into suspects.
"Everything we hear makes our community cringe," said Mohammad Ismail, a Charlotte architect and Palestinian-American. "This is our community also, and we don't like to be perceived as targets of people to be on the lookout against us. I think our (city) leadership did not really pay attention to the possibility of a backlash."
Some Muslims said they worry that Mayor Pat McCrory's warning to residents to watch out for people wearing layers of clothing in hot weather could target those in traditional Islamic clothing. About 8,000 Muslims live in the Charlotte area.
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