Police open hate-crime probe after graffiti is sprayed-painted on Montreal mosque
Montreal police have launched a hate-crime investigation after graffiti reading 'F--k Gaza' was spray-painted on multiple sides of a mosque in the Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough.
The vandalism occurred on June 10, but officers were only called to the scene the following day, according to SPVM spokesperson Véronique Dubuc.
Police were dispatched to the Canadian Institute of Islamic Civilization building on Belmont St. near Décarie Blvd., where they found three pieces of blue spray-painted graffiti.
In a post on social media, the centre condemned the incident as 'not just graffiti' but 'hate,' describing it as Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian. The centre wrote: 'This attack was meant to intimidate us, but they don't realize how united we are.'
The investigation has been transferred to the SPVM's hate-crimes unit, which is reviewing surveillance footage.
No injuries or arrests have been reported.
It comes as the number of reported hate crimes in Montreal increased in 2024, according to the SPVM's latest annual report.
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