NBC story on 'backlash' against 'American Muslims' stirs outrage

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Less than 24 hours after a driver plowed into a crowd Tuesday in New York City, NBC News faced criticism for posting an unfounded story about American Muslims.

Fox News reports the NBC story suggested that Muslim Americans were “bracing for backlash” because the suspect Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant from Uzbekistan, was Muslim.

Critics on social media slammed the network for focusing on an unsubstantiated idea rather than on those killed or injured in the attack.

NRA spokeswoman and author Dana Loesch wrote on Twitter, “Maybe we should focus on those who were brutally murdered than a backlash you hope manifests.”

President Trump called for the death penalty Wednesday night amid reports that Saipov said he was proud of what he did and asked for an ISIS flag for his hospital room.

Corrie O'Connor