LAST UPDATE | 10 Apr 2024

AT LEAST THREE people have been shot at an Eid al-Fitr event in Philadelphia, according to police. 

The shooting happened at around 2.30pm local time (6.30pm Irish time).

The incident occurred in an area of Parkside in the city where residents were celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Police at the scene heard about 30 gun shots, Philadelphia police commissioner Kevin Bethel told reporters at a news conference.

Two groups of people started firing at each other, and people began fleeing the scene, he said.

Five people, four males and a female, have been arrested, Bethel said.

Four weapons were recovered at the scene. 

No one was killed in the incident but three people were shot. 

One suspect, a 15-year-old boy who police said had a weapon, was shot by police and sustained wounds to his shoulder and leg.

A 22-year-old man was also shot in the stomach, and another juvenile had a gunshot wound to his hand.

One child pedestrian was struck by a police patrol vehicle during the course of the incident and sustained a fractured leg, Bethal said. 

Bethal said is it “very fortunate” that there were no other injuries or fatalities. 

It was not immediately clear what caused the shooting.

Zania Weatherford, who said she has been coming to the festival for about six years, said she was in the park enjoying the celebration and had gone to her car “for a minute” when she heard 20-30 gunshots and saw people running across the street from the park.

She said she stayed in her car, scared and unsure of what to do, then called relatives who were also at the event to make sure they were safe.

“Last year, someone set off firecrackers and scared everyone,” Weatherford said.

“This is just a celebration of life for God to forgive us for our sins. There’s one month that God chains the devil down, so whoever did this can’t even blame the devil.”

US Senator Bob Casey said his office has been in touch with local officials regarding the incident. 

“As we gather more details, I urge everyone to stay safe and listen to law enforcement,” he posted on X. 

Includes reporting by Press Association