{"id":652584,"date":"2026-05-06T23:53:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T23:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/652584\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T23:53:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T23:53:08","slug":"vandalism-at-temporary-mosque-in-mississauga-probed-as-possible-hate-crime-mp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/652584\/","title":{"rendered":"Vandalism at temporary mosque in Mississauga probed as possible hate crime: MP"},"content":{"rendered":"

The vandalizing of a temporary mosque in Mississauga\u2019s west end has prompted police to investigate the matter as a potential hate crime.<\/p>\n

Peel Regional Police said officers responded to a call shortly after 8:30 a.m. last Thursday morning at an apartment building on Roche Court, near Erin Mills Parkway and the QEW.<\/p>\n

Residents complained to police that a common area party room inside the building that\u2019s being used \u201con a temporary basis as a prayer space\u201d had been vandalized sometime during the overnight hours.<\/p>\n

Police said subsequent investigation by officers included reviewing CCTV footage and speaking with several residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe (Peel police) Hate Crime Unit is overseeing the investigation to help determine the motive,\u201d Peel police told INsauga.com on Wednesday, adding \u201cno further information can be provided at this time to protect ongoing investigative efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call the Peel police Hate Crime Unit at 905-453-3311, ext. 6098, or Peel Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.<\/p>\n

The incident has also prompted Mississauga-Lakeshore MP Charles Sousa to speak out, denouncing the vandalism.<\/p>\n

\u201cA mosque in our community was vandalized last night,\u201d Sousa wrote in a post to social media last Friday. \u201cAn attack on a place of worship is an attack on the safety and belonging of an entire community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sousa also noted Peel police are looking into the incident \u201cas a potential hate crime. Hate has no place in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a statement posted to X, Sousa added to his thoughts, saying:<\/p>\n

\u201cI was saddened and appalled to hear that a mosque in our community was vandalized. An attack on a prayer room or any space of worship is more than just destruction of property \u2014 it is an assault on our personal safety and security.\u201d<\/p>\n

The MP added that \u201csadly, this is not the first reported attack in our area. The rise of religious hate including Islamophobia or antisemitism is worrisome and inexcusable. There is no room for acts of violence in our community and we must stand together to stem their tide.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Peel Regional Police Hate Crime Unit was formed last year<\/a> to help the law enforcement agency more effectively investigate hate crimes and better support the victims of such incidents, police said earlier.<\/p>\n

The new squad is a dedicated and centralized unit expected to enhance police response to both hate-motivated crimes and \u201cculturally sensitive\u201d incidents.<\/p>\n

Peel police Deputy Chief Mark Dapat said last year victims of hate-motivated incidents are encouraged to report their experiences to law enforcement, adding the new hate crime team \u201cwill relentlessly pursue and hold those who commit hate crimes accountable. Acts of hate have no place in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

(Source: Peel Regional Police 2024 Hate-motivated Crime Report)<\/p>\n

Last May, Peel police reported they laid more than twice as many hate crime charges in 2024 in Mississauga and Brampton<\/a> compared to 2023 despite the number of such offences remaining virtually unchanged.<\/p>\n

Statistics from Peel Regional Police show there were 166 reported hate-motivated crimes in the region\u2019s two large cities in 2024 compared to 162 the previous year.<\/p>\n

However, 74 charges were laid in 2024 while 35 charges were filed in 2023. Tracking back to 2022, police in Peel laid 37 charges and there were 123 hate crimes reported in the region.<\/p>\n

Numbers from 2025 have not yet been released, but are expected to be made public in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

Dapat, who authored the 2024 Hate-motivated Crime Report, noted in 2025 the \u201csignificant increase\u201d in number of charges laid from 2023 to the following year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis increase could be attributed to a variety of factors,\u201d he said in the conclusion of his report.<\/p>\n

Dapat said those factors include, but are not limited to:<\/p>\n

A shift in the types and severity of crimes that are motivated by hate.
\nA continued enhancement of investigators\u2019 expertise and understanding of hate-related matters.
\nOngoing collaboration with community partners who recognize the importance of reporting such incidents.<\/p>\n


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