Investigation underway after 'hateful messages' spray painted on North York mosque
An investigation is underway after North York’s Towfiq Islamic Centre was recently defaced with what Toronto police are calling “hateful messages.”
On Thursday, at 5:30 a.m., police said they received a call for a hate crime/mischief at a mosque near Weston Road and Oak Street, which is just south of Highway 401.
According to investigators, two suspects spray painted graffiti on the building at around 12:30 a.m.
The suspects were seen fleeing on foot eastbound on Oak Street.
Toronto police Chief Myron Dewkiw took to Twitter earlier today to condemn the incident, which police are treating as a suspected hate-motivated offense.
“We’re committed to investigating every potential hate crime & encourage the reporting of any suspected hateful act to police,” he wrote.
Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie has also spoken out on social media about what happened.
“I'm extremely troubled by this act of vandalism in the midst of the holy month of Ramadan,” she said in a Twitter thread.
“Mosques are a place of peace where people should be able to gather to celebrate their faith without fear. I am proud to stand up against any act of Islamophobia in our city and I want our Muslim community to know we will not tolerate acts of hatred. … We want all residents to be able to celebrate their faith in peace in our city.”
Toronto police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone who was driving in the area at the time and has dash camera footage to contact them.
Tips can also be left anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.