Langley, B.C., mosque increasing security after receiving threatening letter
A Metro Vancouver mosque has received a disturbing letter containing references to Hitler and the Ku Klux Klan, and threatening violence.
The letter was received in the mail last Thursday, but the Langley Islamic Centre only shared a photo of it in a Facebook post Tuesday evening.
“We are shaken by a deeply concerning violent threat that was directed towards our beautiful community in Langley,” the post says. “The letter received…is meant to directly threaten members of the Langley Muslim community. The letter clearly stated a reference to the Christchurch Mosque Attack.”
Fifty-one Muslims were murdered, and 40 more injured when a lone gunman opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March of 2019.
“Absolutely the community is in shock, but it has brought us together and it’s allowed to us to reflect on the fact that these threats are real,” said Fawad Kalsi, the centre’s Imam.
The letter came via Canada Post and is made up of text cut from newspapers and magazines affixed to a sheet of paper.
“You have two months to shut ths (sic) place down and leave,” it begins, before referencing the Australian man convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the Christchurch massacre.
The mosque has turned the letter over to Langley RCMP who say the threat is being taken very seriously.
Local investigators are working with the B.C. Hate Crime Unit and INSET, a national team responsible for investigating threats related to terrorism and extremism.
The RCMP also says it is working to ensure the safety of people attending the mosque.
“Whether that means additional officers, additional patrols, attending services — basically everything is on the table,” said Cpl. Holly Largy.
The letter comes almost three months after a van attack in London, Ont., when four members of a Muslim family died after being run down in early June.
A nine-year-old boy was also hit and is the only member of his family to survive what police and Crown prosecutors have deemed an intentional act.
“We’re currently in the midst of a crisis — one in which hate, systemic racism and Islamophobia are on the rise,” said Fatema Abdalla, communications coordinator for the National Council of Canadian Muslims. “And so there is this need for systemic racism, for hate, for Islamophobia to spoken about by every single one of our politicians today. And we need to come up with a national plan against white supremacy.”
Police say the letter is being investigated as a possible hate crime, and anyone with information is asked to call Langley RCMP or CrimeStoppers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.