Canadian arrested for hate-motivated attack on mosque in Toronto

A Canadian man identified as Chandler Marshall is under arrest for multiple charges regarding hate-motivated attacks outside a downtown mosque in Toronto and two other locations in the city centre.

According to a statement issued by Toronto Police on Saturday evening, officers were alerted around 6:40am to the Toronto Islamic Center (TIC) situated near the intersection of Yonge Street and Davenport Road.

A statement issued by the TIC shared by the National Council for Canadian Muslims (NCCM) on X, formerly known as Twitter, said that a man tried to vandalise the centre and yelled Islamophobic slurs and threats at congregants.

"This is not the first time TIC has faced Islamophobia. We previously received threats that someone was coming to commit another Christchurch attack at our centre," the TIC statement said in part.

"We want to be clear: We will not be intimidated. While our first priority is to ensure the ongoing safety of worshippers, we need to see long-term change to fight all forms of hate."

The TIC message urged the people to attend prayers and stand against hatred, Islamophobia, and antisemitism. The NCCM social media post also shared a video of the incident was handed over to Toronto police.

Toronto police also revealed that the 28-year-old suspect was also charged in connection with two incidents on Wednesday morning with the first incident occurring before 4:30am when a victim, driving a taxi, asked Marshall if he needed a ride.

Marshall asked if he was Muslim before spraying his face with an unknown substance.

The second incident occurred three and a half hours later when a woman wearing a hijab was approached by Marshall, who made derogatory statements before spraying her face with an unknown substance. The victim was treated for minor physical injuries, according to City News.

Additionally, Marshall is scheduled to appear in a Toronto bail court Monday morning, after being charged with "four counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of assault, two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, two counts of mischief, two counts of administering a noxious substance, two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, two counts of weapons dangerous, and uttering threats."