Suspects charged, identified after allegedly threatening to ‘blow up’ Scarborough mosque
Posted June 15, 2021 5:26 pm.
Last Updated June 16, 2021 1:23 pm.
Toronto police say two suspects have been arrested after attempting to break into the Islamic Institute of Toronto (IIT) Tuesday.
Police were called to the Institute just before 12:00 p.m. and allege a man and woman made threats to staff while attempting to enter the building. They were believed to be under the influence of drugs.
It’s alleged the pair were confronted after accessing a set of keys to one of the mosque’s doors. Police say the male suspect threatened to blow up the building with an object, later identified as keys.
The female suspect then “pointed her fingers in the shape of a gun” and threatened to shoot the victim.
Officers say they did not have any weapons or explosives on them at the time. Both were arrested at the scene.
The IIT also published a statement on Facebook, detailing the security incident.
“As some of you have heard, there was an incident at the Islamic Institute of Toronto earlier today,” they wrote. “Police were called when two individuals attempted to access the building illegally, and uttered threats when confronted. They have been arrested and are in police custody. We are in contact with the police and will have more to say later.”
No injuries were reported.
On Wednesday, police identified the pair of suspects as 24-year-old Nickodemo Bruzzese of Toronto and 22-year-old Samantha Stone of no fixed address.
They face multiple charges including break and enter and threatening death. Bruzzese and Stone appeared in court on Wednesday.
The mosque acknowledges that there is “heightened concern” following the hate-motivated attack in London, Ont. where a 20-year-old is accused of murdering four family members and seriously injuring a fifth in a hit-and-run incident allegedly influenced by Islamophobic ideologies.
“If there are Islamophobia-related aspects to the incident, we will let the community know ASAP,” the IIT continued. “In the interim, we urge our community not to speculate as the investigation moves forward.”
Police added the Hate Crime Unit has been notified, but “there is no evidence to suggest this is hate-motivated at this time.”
“We want to assure everyone we have engaged our Hate Crime Unit out of an abundance of caution and we will continue to support members of the Institute and the wider community,” investigators said.
Officers said they will continue to patrol the area in the meantime.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
