Hawzah News Agency-A high-powered BB gun was fired at an Oshawa mosque recently and that has raised concerns about the safety of congregants.
A BB gun was fired at the Islamic Centre of Oshawa on Thursday, July 21 at about 9:15 p.m. Centre director Siraj Patel said the incident happened when worshippers, including several children, were outside and near where the pellets hit.
“The perpetrator shot a high-powered pellet gun or sling shot towards the children. Fortunately, they were not successful in hitting the children. However, considerable damage was caused to a unique arched glass window at the entrance to the building. Similar damage has also been caused to other parts of the building over the course of the last month,” Mr. Patel noted.
Durham Regional Police spokeswoman Jodi MacLean said officers were called to the centre on Tuesday, July 26 when the shooting was reported.
“A group was standing in front of the centre and they heard a broken window noise,” she said.
Investigating officers found a BB pellet below a broken window, she noted.
The damage is estimated to be well over $10,000, Mr. Patel said.
“This clearly appears to be a targeted hate-motivated incident which is progressive in nature. The initial incidents targeted the building with the most recent being an attempt to injure children,” he noted. “The incident took place at a time when children were playing outside of the facility, so we believe this to be a hate-motivated act with a clear disregard for the potential safety of the congregants. This is extremely concerning. The centre is heavily used by children, women and men throughout the day and to have someone shoot at congregants is definitely a cause for major concern.”
There has been an increase is incidents targeting Muslims in Oshawa, he said.
“We encourage all residents of Oshawa to come visit the Islamic Centre of Oshawa and get to know the Muslims in our City and to continue to speak out against all acts of hate, bigotry, and racism,” Mr. Patel added.
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