Threats against Toronto Mosque Under Investigation
Police said they received a report about the calls made to the Toronto Islamic Center and Community Services, on Yonge Street north of Bloor Street, on Wednesday.
According to the center, the calls were received Wednesday at 7:20 p.m. and 8:41 p.m. The first call was about a minute, while the second lasted 14 minutes. The center received the second call while a staff person was calling 911.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims, an advocacy organization, posted audio of one of the calls on its Instagram page. In it, a person is heard speaking with the caller, who makes reference to Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 Muslims praying at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2019.
The caller, who says he is not Canadian, tells the person to search for Tarrant's name.
"Another Christchurch is going to happen to you," the caller says.
In a news release on Friday, the center said the call was "deeply disturbing."
"During the call, the individual used Islamophobic and racist language and made explicit threats of murder," the center said.
Threat particularly 'brazen,' general manager says
Shaffni Nalir, the center’s general manager, said people who use the center take turns praying. While some are praying, others watch the entrance and exit, he said.
Nalir said it's not the first time that the center has received a threat but this one was "next level" and particularly "brazen."
In 2020, the center received a threatening email from someone saying he was going to shoot up the mosque, he said. In 2023, someone came to the mosque and attacked some people outside after morning prayers.
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The center is raising funds to hire additional security, he added.
"At the end of the day, we do feel that it is a community responsibility to protect ourselves," he said. "At the end of the day, Islamophobia kills. We've seen it happen in different parts of the country."
Nalir said the threat is concerning because sometimes before attacks, there are signs.
"This raised flags for us and this is why we are on edge. However, in order for some of us to pray peacefully, others need to be on guard. And we're OK with that reality."
Police have not determined where calls came from
Police said they do not know where the calls originated from and have not said whether the calls will be investigated as a hate crime.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said in a social media post on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, called the threats "heinous."
"Toronto is a city built on compassion, diversity, and a profound respect for people of all faiths," she said. "We will not tolerate threats of violence, Islamophobia, or hate of any kind. Every resident deserves to feel safe in their place of worship."
The NCCM, meanwhile, said it has been in contact with the mosque.
"Unfortunately, violent Islamophobia is rising across Canada. It is time for elected leaders to work with community members to generate real plans to make sure that our community is safe," the NCCM said in its post.
Source: cbc.ca
