Montreal’s Fire Department is currently investigating a truck fire that caused damage to a mosque in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood during the early hours of Friday morning.
According to Anik Vaillancourt, a spokesperson for the Fire Department, a 911 call was received shortly after 2 a.m. reporting the fire in a truck parked between Baitul Mukarram Mosque and another building on De Courtrai Avenue.
The fire extended to the exterior of the mosque, resulting in damage to its walls. Vaillancourt mentioned that a thorough examination of the interior revealed no signs of the fire spreading inside, although there might be a lingering smell of smoke.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is still unknown, with an investigation report anticipated within the coming days. Meanwhile, all activities at the mosque have been halted indefinitely.
This incident is part of a series of events targeting Jewish and Muslim establishments in the area. Early Saturday saw Nöam, a kosher restaurant in Côte-des-Neiges, destroyed by fire, prompting an arson investigation.
Moreover, the Montreal police’s hate crime unit is looking into an unsettling incident at the Verdun Islamic Centre, where a fake severed hand was thrown while worshippers were inside for prayers.
In response to the escalation of hate crimes, the Canadian Muslim Forum expressed concern over the damage caused to Baitul Mukarram Mosque. The organization highlighted the heightened fear and anxiety experienced by Muslim Canadians in the face of growing Islamophobia across the country.
Côte-des-Neiges—NDG Mayor Stephanie Valenzuela shared her unease regarding the consecutive fires in the borough via a Facebook post. She assured that authorities are in contact with the affected communities and closely monitoring the situations, emphasizing that there is currently no evidence linking these incidents.
