Durham police investigating ‘violent swarming’ attack, Muslim advocacy group says victim’s hijab ‘pulled off’

Durham police are investigating a “violent swarming” attack in Oshawa, Ont. that a Muslim advocacy group says should be investigated as a possible hate-motivated offence after the victim’s hijab was “pulled off.”

In a news release issued Thursday, investigators said they were called to a fast-food restaurant on July 2 at approximately 12:30 a.m. near Cedar Street and Wentworth Street West.

Police said a group that appeared to be composed of young people had been causing a disturbance at the restaurant. When one of the individuals jumped behind the counter and attempted to take an item, police said they were confronted by the victim and a “violent struggle ensued.”

“During that struggle, several other individuals also jumped behind the counter, swarmed and assaulted the victim,” police said.

Extended security camera footage obtained by CTV News shows around 10 people in the group, some of them jumping over the counter to join in the fray.

On Wednesday, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) released blurred surveillance video of the attack in a post on social media, saying they were “appalled and disgusted.”

“The attackers pulled off the woman’s hijab and proceeded to assault her, including stomping on her head,” they said, adding that the victim is the owner of the restaurant.

Now, they’re calling on police to look into “every angle of this incident,” including investigating the possibility that the attack was hate-motivated.

Durham police confirmed that they are aware of the surveillance video and that all motives, “including the potential that this was a hate motivated offence,” will be considered as part of the investigation.

“Video surveillance is only one piece of evidence in an investigation,” they said, adding that their hate crime unit is involved and working with investigators.

It’s unclear what injuries the victim sustained.

“We are looking for a group of males and females. I believe the majority of them were females, however we are looking for both,” Acting Staff Sgt. Joanne McCabe told CTV News.

No detailed suspect descriptions have been provided by police so far.

Attack involved ‘almost a dozen people’: victim’s daughter

At a news conference held by the NCCM on Thursday, the victim’s daughter, who the organization did not identify, explained that her mother was left “deeply shaken” by the attack.

“Did it have to take almost a dozen people, viciously beating my mother, ripping her hijab off, tearing out clumps of her hair, stomping her neck, her back, for us to say that this environment has become unsafe for us?” she asked in an emotional address.

She added that she and her family have noticed a “significant increase in Islamophobic attitudes and actions” from customers who visit their restaurant as of late.

Fatema Abdalla, a spokesperson for the NCCM, said Durham Region has seen a “troubling wave of anti-Muslim hate” in recent years, including an incident in March where a suspect tried to light a woman’s hijab on fire at an Ajax library. She called on all levels of government to do more to address the problem.

“Enough is enough. Our elected officials must understand and acknowledge the gravity of these incidents and attacks. We need a plan. We need real solutions. And we need action,” she said.

Community shocked

Skylar Griswold works in the same plaza and said she heard screaming and yelling around 12:30 a.m., but wasn’t sure what was going on.

“I was like okay well I don’t know what’s going on here but don’t want to get involved,” she said.

Griswold said she knows the woman who was attacked and was “absolutely devastated” when she learned what had happened.

“This woman has been nothing but a positive pillar in our community,” she told CTV News. “She feeds people when they don’t have money, she helps out in the community. She listens, she’s so full of love I’ve never ever experienced anything like that before.”

In a statement, Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter said he’s “very concerned” about the incident and that it doesn’t represent the city.

“I am very concerned and troubled by this shocking act of violence that occurred in Oshawa. My thoughts and sympathies are with the individual who was assaulted,” Carter said.

“Oshawa is a city that values inclusion, respect, and safety. Everyone should feel secure in their workplace or business, and no one should have to experience hateful or unlawful actions that take away from that sense of safety. We remain dedicated to supporting the well-being of all who live and work in our city.”

With files from Allison Hurst