US Muslim teen's memorial burnt after brutal killing

  • 22/06/2017

Just days after a United States Muslim teenager was attacked and killed by a man near her mosque in Virginia, a memorial to her has been set on fire.

Nabra Hassanen, 17, was killed on June 18 when she was walking to the mosque with friends for early morning prayers.

Initially the attack was suspected to be a hate crime but police later said it appeared to have been motivated by road rage.

Darwin Martinez Torres, 22, faces a murder charge over the incident.

Darwin Martinez Torres
Darwin Martinez Torres. Photo credit: Fairfax County Police

Now another man, from South Carolina, has been arrested for allegedly setting fire to Nabra's memorial in Washington DC.

Locals had gathered at the US capital's Dupont Circle on Tuesday night (local time) to mourn the young woman.

Local police told the New York Daily News officers were alerted to the fire on Wednesday morning.

"At this time, the incident does not appear to be motivated by bias," police said.

The 24-year-old was arrested on suspicion of starting a bonfire, the Daily News reported.

Nabra and her friends were walking back from a McDonald's restaurant when they encountered Martinez, said Fairfax police spokeswoman Tawny Wright.

"Something happened and he became upset," Ms Wright said, declining to elaborate on the dispute.

"The group started separating a little bit. The victim happened to be closest to him and then he assaulted her."

A fundraiser has been set up to help Nabra's family.

With another two weeks to run, the fundraiser has almost reached its goal of US$350,000 (NZ$483,000).

Newshub.