Witnesses said about 20 men abducted the man as he left a stream of bear spray at the Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Center on March 19. He was detained until Peel District Police arrived.
No one was seriously injured in the attack.
Imam Ibrahim Hindy said the man also had anti-Muslim posts on social media, but gave no details.
“It seems to have been full of hatred towards members of the Muslim community,” Hindi said. “When he attacked members of the community, he told church members as they confronted him that he was there to kill terrorists.”
The man “is clearly identified as a former Muslim,” Hindi said.
He said the faithful remain injured in the incident.
“Many of them have sought treatment and mental health help from specialists,” Hindy said. “Some of them were just 13 years old and had nightmares.”
Hindi urged the provincial government to pass our London Family Act, a bill drafted by the Ontario NDP and the National Council of Canadian Muslims after a Muslim family in London, Ont., Was hit and killed by a truck in what says the police. hate speech.
The bill was introduced in the legislature earlier this year and passed in first reading, but has since stopped in the standing committee.
It would create safe havens around religious institutions, provide more education and tools in schools to fight racism, ban racist, homophobic and other hate speech demonstrations in Queen’s Park, and prevent white supremacists from enrolling. as societies.
“We do not understand why this legislation has not been passed,” Hindi said. “It is undeniable”.
Parliament Speaker Paul Kalandra told parliament on Thursday that the bill would not be passed before provincial elections are called next month.
“We believe that the bill needs more work to strengthen it,” he said during the Question Time.
“It is very important. What we saw happening in London, I think we all agree, was a tragedy and we have to do a lot of work as legislators to ensure that we honor it, that we respect it and that we work to fight not only Islamophobia but all forms. racism “.
Hindi also said that the federal government should renew its security infrastructure program.
“Right now, I have to wait months to get any security improvements in the building,” he said. “And I could not hire a security guard, which is a real problem given the fact that we have a lot of children attending this facility.”
Public Safety Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The pain remains in the mosque, said Angie Hindi, who works there.
“I find myself looking over my shoulder, scanning the exits and thinking of ways to protect my colleagues and our children during prayers,” he said.
“If it were not for the courage of many believers that day, I am not sure what would have happened.”
Mohammad Moiz Omar, 24, faces a number of charges, including assault with a firearm, possession of a harmful substance and endangering life.
This Canadian Press report was first published on April 14, 2022.
