TORONTO, Canada: Police have arrested two people who allegedly tried to enter a mosque and threatened staff on Tuesday morning.
A man and a woman tried to enter the main and side door of the Islamic Institute of Toronto in Scarborough, but both doors were locked, according to Fareed Amin, chair of the mosque’s board of directors.
The incident comes the week after four members of a Muslim family in London, Ontario, were run down in what police are calling a hate-motivated, Islamophobic attack.
Madiha Salman, her husband Salman Afzaal, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna, and Afzaal’s mother Talat Afzaal were killed, only nine-year-old Fayez survived. The boy was released from the hospital on Monday.
The Islamic Institute of Toronto was one of several mosques across the country to hold a vigil for the Afzaal family last week at which speakers called for an end to Islamophobia and the violent targeting of Muslims, particularly women.
Related story: Canadian man charged with terrorism over killing Muslim family
“We are feeling quite shaken,” Amin said Tuesday evening. “When will it end? What can we do to prevent this? How can we bring communities together and promote tolerance and understanding?”
In a statement on its website, the mosque told its members it was in contact with police about what happened.
Toronto police have arrested two people who allegedly tried to enter a Toronto mosque and threatened staff on Tuesday morning, according to a press release.
A man and a woman tried to enter the main and side door of the Islamic Institute of Toronto in Scarborough, but both doors were locked, according to Fareed Amin, chair of the mosque’s board of directors.
They threatened to detonate a bomb and shoot people, Amin said he was told by two staff members working on the lawn.
Amin commended the police for responding promptly after being called shortly before noon. Both the man and women were arrested, according to Toronto police.
“They were believed to be under the influence of illicit drugs,” according to a police press release. “The suspects had no weapons or explosives on them.” The release did not say whether charges had been laid.
“While there is no evidence to suggest this is hate-motivated at this time, out of an abundance of caution, our Hate Crime Unit has been notified and will support the ongoing investigation,” the release said, adding that the investigation is in the early stages and that patrols will remain in the area.
The National Council of Canada Muslims and the IIT together released a statement Tuesday evening that they are in contact with police.
The statement continued to say, “If there are Islamophobia-related aspects to the incident, we will let the community know ASAP.”
“In the interim, we urge our community not to speculate as the investigation moves forward.”
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