WASHINGTON: The attack on a Pakistan-born US lawmaker Maryam Khan in Connecticut was unprovoked and hateful, said the state’s chief law officer.

Ms Khan, a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, sustained minor injuries after she was attacked by a man following Eidul Azha prayers in Connecticut’s Hartford city on Wednesday.

“The attack on Rep. Khan outside Eidul Azha prayers was violent, unprovoked, and hateful,” said the state’s Attorney General William Tong in a statement issued by his office.

Mr Tong noted that the Eidul Azha gathering, where Ms Khan was attacked, was “life-affirming, peaceful, and joyful, bringing together families” from across Connecticut’s diverse and beautiful Muslim community.

The Hartford Police Department has arrested a suspect, Andrey Desmond, 30, from his home in New Britain, Connecticut. According to the police, he made “unwanted advances, tried to prevent Ms Khan from leaving the area and assaulted her”.

He has been charged with unlawful restraint, assault, breach of peace and interfering with the police.

Ms Khan, a member of the Democrat party from the town of Windsor, was the first Muslim elected as a Connecticut lawmaker. She was with her children and sister at the XL Centre, an arena and conference centre, in Hartford at the time of the attack.

The lawmaker has declined to comment on the attack but shared with the media a joint statement from Connecticut House Speaker Matt Ritter and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas.

“It is especially painful that Rep. Khan was attacked on a holy day of peace and prayer,” Mr. Ritter and Mr. Rojas said.

Another Pakistani American lawmaker from the state, Senator Saud Anwar, said in a statement that he was saddened by the attack.

“We need to come together, now more than ever, and show support for our Muslim community.”

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2023