Waterdown Islamic school classes cancelled after bus hit with Islamophobic graffiti

Classes are cancelled at an Islamic private school in Hamilton after one of its buses was reportedly vandalized with Islamophobic graffiti.

Hamilton police’s hate crime unit is investigating after the bus belonging to Waterdown Islamic School on Innovation Drive was found damaged at a lot on Mohawk Road in Hamilton on May 31.

Hate speech was written on the seats and a fire extinguisher appeared to have been sprayed inside. The bus had been parked at the lot since May 26.

Officers say they are not sure how the busses were identified as being connected to the Islamic school.

The school principal has told CHCH News that classes have been cancelled since Monday due to safety concerns from parents.

The Hamilton and national Muslim community is looking for answers and is calling the incident deeply disturbing.

A photo of some of the vandalism was shared by the National Council of Canadian Muslims on Facebook on Monday.

It shows a school bus seat with a swear word written across the top followed by the word “Muslim” underneath. The Council also says the seats were reportedly shredded.

Hamilton Centre MP Aslam Rana shared a statement on ‘X’ saying, in part, “This was a targeted and deeply troubling act. School buses were allegedly followed, and damage was caused to their accelerators.

“Had these issues gone unnoticed and the buses been operated, the consequences could have been severe, potentially putting children at risk. Islamophobic slurs were also reportedly found on the buses, making it clear that this was an act motivated by hate.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Hamilton police.

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