Mosque arson 'totally out of character,' says mayor of Peterborough, Ont.

Community leaders in Peterborough, Ont.,where a mosque was set aflame over the weekend, came together on Mondayto condemn the attack, which police are investigating as a hate crime.

The attack against the KawarthaMuslim Religious Association"is totally out of character" for the southern Ontario city saidMayorDarrylBennett during a news conference.

His comments were echoed by association president Kenzu Abdella and, in a statement issued later in the day, by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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"This is not what we are used to inPeterborough," saidAbdella.

"The Muslim community is active in the local community and has open houses on a regular basis. We are touched by the overwhelming support we have received. This incident has shocked all of us."

Trudeau said he was "deeply disturbed" by the incident, adding that Canada "will not abide innocent and peaceful citizens being targeted by acts of vandalism and intolerance."

'This is not thePeterboroughway, certainly not the Canadian way.' MaryamMonsef, MP

Police say that just after 11 p.m. on Saturday a window at the mosque was broken. Some kind ofaccelerant was placed in the building. Fire crews were able to extinguish the fire quickly. No one was inside at the time, but it happened hours after a gathering at the mosque to celebrate the birth of a baby.

Police said they have no evidence the arson was connected to Friday's attacks in Paris that left at least 129 people dead. One anonymousdonor has come forward to offer a $10,000 reward for anyone who provides police with information that leads to an arrest.

Earlier in the day, the area's MP called the arson an"ugly, unacceptable act."

This will not change ourperceptionof the community.ImamShazimKhan

Peterborough-Kawartha MPMaryam Monsef, a Muslim who came to Canada as a refugee from Afghanistan 20 years ago, said she was "shaken up" by news of the fire.

"This is not the Peterborough way, certainly not the Canadian way," Monsefsaid Monday in an interview on CBC Radio's Metro Morning."Like everyone here I was disappointed, shaken up and somewhat confused to be honest."

The fire caused about $80,000 in damage. A crowdfunding campaign was launched Sundayto raise that amount to pay for repairs. The campaign had shot pastthat total by noon ET today, and was suspended shortly after it crossed the $110,000 line.

Campaign organizers say the extra moneywill go to other charitable efforts, to be announced later.

The mosque's imam thanked the community for its outpouring of support, and expressed confidence in the investigation.

"This will not change our perception of the community," ImamShazim Khan said at the news conference."We know this is a great community peaceful, loving,welcoming.

"If anyone's supposed to be afraidit's me. But I feel secure."

Imam Shazim Khan thanks Peterborough community for support

9 years ago

Duration 0:58

Imam Shazim Khan thanks the Peterborough community for support following the fire at the Masjid Al-Salaam mosque.

Community has 'condemned this'

Monsefcame to the area when she and her family fled the Taliban in Afghanistan. Shesaid the community welcomed them "with open arms." Monsefsaid it's this spirit, not the one that motivated the arsonists who damaged the mosque, that defines her community. Peterborough is a community of about 78,000 to the west of Toronto.

"As Canadians, we have the privilege of being able to choose:Do we want to be defined by fear and a divisive narrative, or do we want to be defined by who we truly are, which is a welcoming inclusive nation?"

Monsef, who is also the minister of democratic institutions, said the arson and Friday's attacks in Paris havenot deterred the community'sinterest in accepting some of the 25,000 Syrian refugees who the federal government has vowed will be settled in Canada in the next few weeks.

Peterborough resident Tayiba Akhtar attends the mosque with her family once a week. Originally from Kuwait, shemoved to Ontariofrom the United States four years ago and said she and her family feel safe and accepted in the community, though news of the arson came as a shock.

"We are so amazed to the see the love and the support from the Peterborough community," she told CBC News. "I feel accepted. [The fire] is not something I would expect from here."