Peel Regional Police are investigating the vandalism of a temporary mosque in Mississauga’s west end as a possible hate-motivated crime following an incident at an apartment building prayer space last week.
Police said officers responded shortly after 8:30 a.m. Thursday to a residential building on Roche Court, near Erin Mills Parkway and the QEW, after residents reported that a common-area party room being used temporarily as a mosque and prayer space had been vandalized overnight.
Investigators reviewed CCTV footage and interviewed several residents as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Peel Regional Police Hate Crime Unit is now overseeing the case to determine the motive behind the incident.
Police said no further details are being released at this time in order to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Peel police’s Hate Crime Unit at 905-453-3311 ext. 6098 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
The incident prompted strong condemnation from Charles Sousa, who described the vandalism as an attack on the broader community.
“A mosque in our community was vandalized last night,” Sousa wrote on social media. “An attack on a place of worship is an attack on the safety and belonging of an entire community.”
In a separate statement posted on X, Sousa said attacks targeting prayer spaces and places of worship go beyond property damage and strike at the personal safety and security of residents.
“I was saddened and appalled to hear that a mosque in our community was vandalized,” Sousa stated. “An attack on a prayer room or any space of worship is more than just destruction of property — it is an assault on our personal safety and security.”
The MP also expressed concern about what he described as a growing rise in religious hate, including Islamophobia and antisemitism.
“There is no room for acts of violence in our community and we must stand together to stem their tide,” he added.
The Peel Regional Police Hate Crime Unit was established last year to strengthen investigations into hate-related incidents and improve support for victims across Brampton and Mississauga.
Deputy Chief Mark Dapat previously said the specialized unit was created to ensure hate crimes are investigated thoroughly and offenders are held accountable.
“Acts of hate have no place in our community,” Dapat said.
According to the Peel Regional Police 2024 Hate-Motivated Crime Report, there were 166 reported hate-motivated crimes in Mississauga and Brampton in 2024, compared to 162 in 2023.
While the number of reported incidents remained relatively stable, the number of charges laid more than doubled, increasing from 35 in 2023 to 74 in 2024.
Police said the rise in charges may be linked to enhanced investigative expertise, stronger collaboration with community partners, and greater public awareness encouraging victims to report hate-related incidents.