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A 28-year-old Toronto resident was arrested in connection to a “hate-motivated incident" at a mosque in the province of Ontario, after he drove his car towards a worshiper, shouted threats and yelled religious slurs, the police said.
“Witnesses reported that a male suspect had attended in a vehicle and drove directly at one of the worshippers and yelled threats and religious slurs. The suspect drove dangerously in the parking lot before leaving the property,” the statement said.
The Islamic Society of Markham said that an individual entered the mosque in Markham, almost 30 kilometers north of Toronto, tore a Quran and ranted at worshippers. However, the YRP did not mention the Quran being torn.
A warrant was issued for the accused, identified as an Indian-origin man named Sharan Karunakaran, and he was arrested by the YRP shortly after midnight, on 7 April.
He was charged with assault with a weapon, uttering threats, and dangerous driving, and has been held for a bail hearing.
In a statement on Sunday, Ahmed Hussen, Canada’s housing and diversity and inclusion minister, said he was “deeply saddened” by the attack, “during the holy month of Ramadan.”
“The rise of Islamophobia-motivated attacks is deeply concerning & we must stand up against it. We will not let hate win.”
Mary Ng, the Canadian trade minister, condemned the incident, calling it a hate crime and adding that such acts have no place in Canadian society.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims, in a post on Twitter, said that it was "greatly distressed" by the incident.
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