Man charged over hate crime after Islamophobic attack in Canada

TORONTO

A man was apprehended by Canadian police after he rammed his car into a Muslim person in Toronto, officials said Sunday.

The attacker has been detained pending trial for a hate crime.

The incident took place in the parking lot of the Markham Islamic Society Mosque, the oldest and largest mosque in the region, during the early morning prayer, according to a statement from York Regional Police.

The suspect was identified as 28-year-old Sharan Karunakaran.

"Investigators with the York Regional Police #5 District Criminal Investigations Bureau have charged a suspect with several criminal offences after a suspected hate-motivated incident at a mosque in the City of Markham," the police said in the statement.

"Witnesses reported that a male suspect had attended in a vehicle and drove directly at one of the worshippers and yelled threats and religious slurs. The suspect drove dangerously in the parking lot before leaving the property," the officials from the York police also added in the statement.

"Members of the #5 District Criminal Investigations Bureau were notified and worked cooperatively with the Intelligence Unit and Hate Crime Unit to identify the suspect."

"Members of the Hate Crime Unit attended the mosque to offer support to its members.

Shortly after midnight, on April 7, members of York Regional Police arrested the suspect in Toronto.

In the statement, the Markham Islamic Society said before the attack, Karunakaran entered the mosque hurled curses at the congregation and tore a copy of the Quran to pieces.

"After leaving the mosque, the person drove his vehicle onto those who were leaving the prayer. We are very disturbed by this incident. Especially as the anniversary of the vehicle terrorist attack in the city of London in 2021, in which a family of four died, draws closer," the society said in a statement.

Karunakaran will appear in court on Tuesday.