Ottawa police are working with Mounties after “hateful” emails were sent targeting several Muslim schools and centres in the nation’s capital.
Between Sept. 20 and Oct. 6, the Muslim Association of Canada reported the threats to police. The organization calls itself a “grassroots social movement” that focuses on educating and motivating Muslims across the country.
“We recognize how deeply concerning and unsettling these threats may be for members of Ottawa’s Muslim community,” police said in the release.
Officials are in contact with community leaders and local institutions to share information and provide support. Ottawa police also said they have increased their presence around the affected locations to “provide reassurance and help support community safety.”
The investigation is being led by the RCMP, but people can call Ottawa police with information.
“Everyone has the right to learn, worship and gather without fear. Hate, threats and intimidation have no place in our community,” the release notes.
The threats come as the annual national number of hate crimes against Muslims remains higher than it was five years ago — 204 were reported to police forces across Canada in 2025, compared with 142 in 2021.
Some experts and advocates pointing to rising tensions amid the Israel-Hamas war as a key contributor, as well as social media’s role as a powerful vector for harmful rhetoric.
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