Philadelphia bank robbers dressing as Muslim women (VIDEO)

Philadelphia’s Muslim community is so alarmed by a string of armed robberies – with suspects disguising themselves in Islamic veils – that it’s offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Police and representatives from the city’s Muslim community made the announcement this week after one man was killed during a hold-up at a barbershop, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

“Philadelphia is a unique city in that Islam is not new here,” said Aliya Khabir of the United Muslim Masajid, according to the Inquirer. “It’s up to us to set the tone for how this is addressed.”

Police arrested one man connected to the barbershop robbery on April 18.

Since December, police said suspects wearing long, black robes and face coverings robbed five banks.

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Philadelphia’s Muslim community is concerned that women wearing burqas or veils could become targets of violence or scrutiny, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“We regard this act as discriminatory,” Imam Isa Abdul Matin said in the LA Times. “It is in actuality a type of hate crime against Muslims.”

District Attorney Seth Williams told ABC News that police are seeking two more suspects.

Police don’t believe the suspects are part of a group or gang.

“We are seeing this all too often now, cowards dressing in the outer garb of Muslim women, robbing banks, shooting people,” Williams said, according to ABC.

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