Winnipeg police’s hate crimes unit is investigating after shots were fired at a city mosque while people were inside, an incident that has left members of the Muslim community “deeply shaken.”
Community leaders told reporters at a July 30 press conference that two people drove by and discharged a firearm in the direction of the mosque at the Rahma Islamic Centre in the northeast end of the city the previous evening.
“We often believe that incidents like this will not happen to us,” said Rahma Islamic Centre imam and director Feisal Adem. “The peace and sense of security that our members once felt has been deeply shaken by this incident.”
While passing by, East District officers observed newly broken windows at the mosque on July 29 at approximately 11:30 p.m., the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) said in a July 30 press release.
Officers discovered the suspected drive-by shooting while conducting their investigation, and believe the damage to the windows was caused by bullets, according to the release. Investigators said the suspect vehicle fled south on Watt Street after the shooting, but two individuals later arrived on foot and broke additional windows with an unknown object.
“Officers also learned that suspects had attended earlier in the evening and shouted racist comments towards patrons,” police said. “The WPS is treating the incident as a potential hate-motivated crime involving both property damage and the reported discharge of a firearm at a mosque.”
Winnipeg Islamic Centre president Kadar Ahmed and Manitoba Islamic Association Chair Hakim Ghulam, who both spoke at the press conference, said people should always feel safe at their place of worship.
“Let’s work together and respect and protect all the mosques, temples, churches, synagogues because we are one Manitoba,” Ghulam said.
Ahmed echoed the message, saying there should be “no hatred in Manitoba.”
“We are strong in Manitoba,” he said. “If you mess with Manitoba people or Winnipeg people, you are messing with the wrong people.”
Sadaf Ahmed, who serves as the government affairs and public policy officer for the National Council of Canadian Muslims in Manitoba, told reporters there has been an “escalation in violent Islamophobic incidents across our country” over the past month, which she described as an “alarming pattern.”
She called for “immediate and concrete action,” saying the incident at the Rahma Islamic Centre should be classified as a hate crime.
The Winnipeg Police Service said it intends to increase its presence and patrols in and around the Rahma Islamic Centre and other area mosques in response to the July 29 shooting and vandalism.
Officials Respond
Both Prime Minister Mark Carney and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree made statements on social media.
“I am deeply disturbed to learn of the shots fired at the Rahma Islamic Centre in Winnipeg last night,” Carney said on X. “This violent act of Islamophobia is appalling and has no place in Canada.”
Anandasangaree said the Winnipeg Police would have his “full support as they continue their investigation and the RCMP stand ready to support.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also posted about the incident.
“We should all condemn the shots fired at this Winnipeg mosque,” he said on X. “Hopefully the shooters will be caught and punished. Relieved that no one appears to have been harmed.”
Manitoba Culture Minister Nellie Kennedy, who attended the press conference at the mosque, called on residents across the province to “choose respect.”
“As a government and as Manitobans, we choose unity, we choose respect, we choose compassion and we choose to stand up against hate wherever and whenever it appears,” she said.
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said “no one should feel unsafe in a place of worship or community gathering.”
“I am very grateful no one was injured in this incident,” he said in a Facebook post. “The Winnipeg Police Service is investigating, and I encourage anyone with information to come forward.
The hate crimes unit of the WPS is asking anyone with information, video, including dash cam video, to contact the unit or Crime Stoppers.
