Imam says he is 'traumatized' after allegedly being assaulted by intruder at Scarborough mosque
Toronto police are investigating after they were called to a mosque in Scarborough Monday for an intruder who allegedly assaulted an imam during morning prayers.
The incident happened at around 7 a.m. at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto (IFT) at 441 Nugget Ave., which is near Markham Road and McLevin Avenue.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
According to the mosque, the imam was “assaulted.”
“Two brave congregants quickly held him back and called 911,” IFT wrote in a tweet.
“Toronto police took the individual and are investigating. We advise the community to keep safe.”
Toronto police told CP24 that the assault was minor in nature and that no one was injured.
They initially said that it was not being investigated as a hate crime as the person arrested has mental health issues, and no charges have been laid so far.
Speaking with CP24, the National Council of Canadian Muslims expressed concern that the incident was not being investigated for possible hate motivation.
In an update late Monday afternoon, Toronto police said they continue to investigate and that they remain “in close contact with community leadership.”
“Toronto Police investigates all potential hate crimes fully. If charges are laid, an update will be provided,” the force said in a tweet.
An intruder allegedly entered Scarborough's Islamic Foundation of Toronto mosque Monday and assaulted an imam during morning prayers.
In a statement posted to Facebook on Monday afternoon, imam Shaykh Yusuf Badat said that he and many of his congregants remain “traumatized, in fear and very worried” after the “horrific incident.”
He said that they also want answers to a number of unanswered questions, including why the suspect was “allowed to drive off in a vehicle after an act of assault?”
“I pray that no individual or community ever face what horrific incident the IFT congregation and myself have experienced this morning,” he said.
In a tweet, Toronto Mayor John Tory expressed his concerns about this morning's incident, adding he's "relieved to learn no one has been hurt."
"Places of worship should always be safe places for all of our residents," Tory wrote.
"I'm thankful for the congregants who stepped in to help and to Toronto Police for responding to this incident and investigating."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre says it would be 'not fair' for Liberals to replace Trudeau as leader
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre thinks it would be 'not fair' for the Liberals to oust Prime Minister Justin Trudeau now, as in his view they are 'morally obligated' to keep him.
An expert stands firm on his U.S. election win prediction. Here's what he says happened after
An American presidential historian is maintaining his previous prediction of a Kamala Harris presidency as the U.S. election hits the one-week mark.
Missing B.C. teenager Jodi Henrickson at centre of upcoming documentary
Henrickson was a 17-year-old girl from Squamish who went missing after a house party on Bowen Island, during the then unusually warm summer of 2009.
'I'm ready for an election': Bloc beginning talks to topple Trudeau gov't as ultimatum expires
Bloc Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet is starting to talk to other opposition parties about bringing down Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberal government.
Nova Scotia lifts stop-work order at Halifax Walmart one week after body of teen found in oven
Nova Scotia’s Department of Labour has lifted its stop-work order at a Halifax Walmart more than a week after the body of 19-year-old Gursimran Kaur was discovered in an industrial oven in the store’s bakery.
N.S. teen charged for allegedly making threats to school
A Nova Scotia teen is facing numerous charges related to a complex swatting investigation. On Oct. 25, Nova Scotia RCMP, with the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police, arrested a 14-year-old male at his home in Bridgewater, N.S.
Senior Modi cabinet minister linked to India-supported violence in Canada: officials
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison has confirmed a report that Canada is alleging an Indian cabinet minister and close adviser to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered intelligence-gathering operations of Canadians.
Plant-based milk facility did not follow listeria prevention protocol: CFIA
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says an Ontario facility producing plant-based milks was not adhering to Health Canada’s policies on listeria prevention prior to an outbreak that led to three deaths.
Special interlocutor calls for 20-year probe into missing Indigenous children
A final report into missing children and unmarked graves at residential schools is calling on the federal government to create an Indigenous-led national commission with a 20-year mandate to investigate missing and disappeared Indigenous children.