Canada raises security at nine Muslim schools after alleged Islamophobic threats

08:15

Nine Muslim schools across Canada have increased security measures following an anonymous email containing threats of violence against Muslims, according to information reported by the Associated Press.

The message was reportedly sent to schools operated by the Association of Muslim Canadians (MAC) in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia within a period of less than 24 hours. The organization subsequently notified local law-enforcement agencies and arranged additional security at the affected institutions.

The incident has placed school communities on heightened alert as authorities investigate the origin and credibility of the threats.

Police investigate threatening message

Nabil Sultan, a spokesperson for the MAC, said the anonymous communication included explicit threats against Muslims and referred to the person behind the message as a self-described “vigilante.”

The Association said the threats were sufficiently specific to prompt an immediate security response. Sultan noted that the organization had previously encountered Islamophobic threats, but said the latest incident was unusual because of its direct focus on schools under the association’s management.

Peel Regional Police in Ontario confirmed that its specialized Hate Crime Unit is responsible for investigating the incident. The police service has also previously established a dedicated unit to handle hate-motivated incidents and strengthen its response to threats targeting religious and cultural communities.

Additional police visibility has been arranged around mosques and schools, with enhanced measures expected to remain in place through the weekend.

Families confronted with heightened security

The security measures have created an unsettling atmosphere for some students and their families. Sultan, whose own child attends one of the affected schools, said students are now arriving at school amid a visible presence of police officers and security personnel.

The increased protection is intended to reassure school communities while investigators assess the threat. At the same time, the presence of security teams has underscored the concerns generated by the message among parents, students and staff.

The MAC has urged authorities and the wider public to take the incident seriously, particularly given the explicit nature of the threats.

Concerns over wider climate

Beyond the immediate investigation, the incident has renewed discussion within Canada's Muslim community about the effects of Islamophobic intimidation on young people.

Sultan said students could begin questioning their sense of belonging in Canada when threats are directed at institutions where they study and gather. He also called attention to what he described as a broader climate of Islamophobia and xenophobia.

Peel Regional Police has emphasized its commitment to investigating hate-motivated incidents and has encouraged people who experience or witness such incidents to report them. Its Hate Crime Unit was created specifically to provide a more specialized response and support for communities affected by hate-related incidents.

For the nine schools now operating under heightened security, the immediate priority remains protecting students and staff while the investigation continues. The authorities' findings will be important in determining the nature of the threat and whether further security measures are required.