- Police are investigating a suspected hate crime: racist remarks were shouted outside the centre, and a home in the 600 block of Roberta Avenue may be a second target with similar airsoft/pellet-style window damage.
- Windows at the mosque were boarded up Friday with shattered glass still on the ground, and Anas Askar said the community feels “shaken up” and has lost its sense of safety.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the incident, saying he was “deeply disturbed” by shots fired at the Rahma Islamic Centre, called the violence “appalling”, and said he was grateful no one was injured.
- Investigators are trying to determine whether the two incidents are related due to their proximity and time frame, and police are asking for information, surveillance or dashcam footage.
- According to Steven Zhou, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) has seen an increase in reports of violence and verbal threats; he said such attacks are now a near-daily occurrence, including a man at a Halifax Costco threatening to kill “every one of you.”
Winnipeg police are investigating a suspected hate crime at the Rahma Islamic Centre, where windows were shot out with a pellet-style gun on Wednesday night. The attack, which occurred around 11:30 p.m., was accompanied by racist remarks directed at worshippers earlier that day.123
Police have identified a potential second target, a home on Roberta Avenue, where similar damage occurred. “Due to the proximity and time frame of both incidents, investigators are attempting to determine if the incidents are related,” police stated.1011
The mosque's windows were boarded up following the attack, and while there was no noticeable damage inside, attendees expressed feeling unsafe. “They feel shaken up, because as a small community, you wouldn’t think that (these) things would happen to you,” said mosque member Askar.
The incident has raised alarms about rising anti-Muslim sentiment in Canada. “It’s not every day that you have a mosque that is shot up... but it is pretty much now a literally everyday occurrence where some Muslim individual or gathering is accosted,” said Zhou from the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM).121314
In a statement, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the attack, calling it “a violent act of Islamophobia” and expressed gratitude that no one was injured. The NCCM has reported an increase in violence and threats against Muslims in recent weeks, highlighting a troubling trend across the country.789
“Police are also probing window damage at a home in Roberta Avenue's 600 block and seeking surveillance or dashcam footage. Askar said worshippers feel 'shaken up,' while Prime Minister Mark Carney called the violence 'appalling' and said he is grateful no one was injured.”
Global News
