Liberal MP for Scarborough Centre – Don Valley East Salma Zahid in Ottawa in 2024.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
Toronto Liberal MP Salma Zahid said Thursday her car was set on fire at her home and police are investigating it as a suspected arson.
In a written statement Zahid said her car and another vehicle were set on fire overnight and both her son and neighbours called 911 after noticing the fire.
In a post on social media, Prime Minister Mark Carney called the fire “a cowardly act of violence and intimidation” that has no place in Canada.
Last night, MP Salma Zahid’s car was set on fire outside of her home in Scarborough.
This is a cowardly act of violence and intimidation. It is unacceptable. It is not who we are as Canadians.
I’m relieved Salma and her family are safe. The Toronto Police have my full support… https://t.co/0jLhnyXsqv
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) August 27, 2026
A spokesperson from Zahid’s office said the fire was noticed around 1:15 a.m. Thursday. The spokesperson said the second vehicle belonged to a neighbour.
Zahid said both vehicles were destroyed and she is relieved everyone is safe and that there was no damage to her home.
“I don’t want to speculate on a possible motive. We will await the results of the investigation. But such attacks are unacceptable and will not deter me from my work serving Scarborough Centre-Don Valley East,” Zahid said in her statement.
Zahid is not doing interviews at this time.
Toronto police said they responded to a call about multiple vehicles on fire in a residential Scarborough neighbourhood shortly before 1:30 a.m. They said three vehicles were damaged and no injuries were reported.
“This is being treated as a suspected arson,” Toronto police spokesperson Stephanie Miceli wrote in an e-mail to The Canadian Press. “There is no suspect information currently available.”
There has been an increase in threats against MPs from all parties in recent years, including vandalism at constituency offices.
Zahid says she is thankful for the Toronto police and fire services for their prompt response and for neighbours who called emergency responders.
Toronto police said they will provide more information about the investigation when possible.