What the email said
The email, sent to the nine MAC schools over a 24-hour period this week, threatens the "slaughter" of Muslims and vows that Canada will be "Islam free." It was signed by someone identifying only as "Citizen Vigilante."
The Ottawa response
Ottawa police have increased visibility at the locations here that received the letters. Police said there is currently no indication of a "specific or imminent threat," but the added presence is meant to reassure families and staff at the affected schools while the investigation continues.
Ottawa's response is part of a wider, coordinated police effort. In Peel Region, officers increased overnight patrols near mosques and schools, and that stepped-up presence is set to continue into the weekend. Peel Regional Police's hate crime unit is investigating the threat directly. London and Waterloo police are also investigating threatening emails sent to Islamic schools in their jurisdictions, and officers visited at least one school to work through safety planning with staff.
In response to the threats, MAC has hired paid security to protect students at its schools, a step the organization felt was necessary given the direct targeting of children.
'Shook us to our core'
MAC spokesperson Nabil Sultan said the nature of the threat, aimed squarely at children and schools, hit the organization hard. "The targeting of children, the targeting of schools, in that kind of way is something that shook us to our core," Sultan said.
Sultan added that the schools exist to teach children they belong here on equal footing with every other Canadian. "All of the things that we try to teach our children in these schools is that they are equal to any other Canadian, that they have equal rights and responsibilities," he said.
Federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree also weighed in, saying safety in the classroom shouldn't be in question for any family. "Every child deserves to learn in safety, and every family deserves to feel secure sending their child to school," Anandasangaree said.
Earlier this month
This isn't the first time Ottawa's Muslim community has pushed for a stronger response to threats and Islamophobia. Back in June, local advocates marked five years since the London, Ontario attack that killed four members of the Afzaal family, calling for more meaningful government action, and said at the time that progress had been too slow. You can read ottown's earlier report on those calls for change.
Sources: CP24, The Globe and Mail
