BURLINGTON, VT – Three Palestinian college students were wounded by a gunman while walking in a residential area of Burlington on Saturday night. In the wake of the incident, their families, supported by civil rights groups, have called for an investigation into the possibility of a hate-driven attack.

The incident, which happened close to the University of Vermont campus, involved the shooting of two students in the torso and the third in the lower extremities. The victims, aged 20, are currently receiving treatment at the University of Vermont Medical Center, with one critically injured, according to local police.

It was reported that during their confrontation with the assailant, who is described as a white male, two students were wearing keffiyehs—scarves that are a symbol of Palestinian heritage. The assailant fired at least four rounds at the students without uttering a word, police stated. The suspect then reportedly fled the scene on foot.

Burlington’s Police Department and the FBI are investigating the shooting. While the authorities have not confirmed the motive behind the attack, there is significant pressure from various groups to categorize it as a hate crime given the identities of the victims.

The victims are identified as Hisham Awartani of Brown University, Kinnan Abdalhamid of Haverford College, and Tahseen Ahmad of Trinity College. According to a statement by Haverford College, Abdalhamid is in recovery from the gunshot wounds.

The U.S. Senator for Vermont, Bernie Sanders, condemned the violence on social media, awaiting a thorough investigation. Moreover, international voices, including Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, have stressed the urgent need for protection against hate crimes targeted at Palestinians.

In response to the attack, the Council on American-Islamic Relations has announced a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the shooting. This incident is part of a worrying trend following an increase in tensions and hate crimes in the U.S. and abroad, as recently experienced by the Palestinian community.

As of now, the suspect remains unidentified and at large. Burlington police urge anyone with information to come forward, and they are continuing to gather evidence to locate the shooter.