Man behind Mississauga mosque attack sentenced to 8 years in prison

A man accused of attacking several people inside a Mississauga mosque last year has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Mohammed Moiz Omar, 24, of Mississauga, pleaded guilty to three of seven charges last week, including administering a noxious substance and assault with a weapon. Investigators later upgraded the charges, saying the offences Omar is charged with constitute terrorist activity under the criminal code.

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) ruled that Omar’s sentencing “is significantly higher than sentences usually received for the substantive offences because of the terrorism component.”

“This was a targeted attack on all the congregants of the Islamic Centre. The worshippers present at the time and on some of the values held dear by Canadians. Those values include freedom to gather and pray and freedom of religion,” said federal prosecutor Sarah Shaikh.

“The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and society’s condemnation for such attacks. It also takes into account the acknowledgment of guilt.”

Omar must serve one-half of his sentence before he’s eligible for parole.

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Advocates say Canada’s Muslim community is disappointed Omar received an eight-year sentence.

Imam Ibrahim Hindy says the attack at the Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre has left the community with long-lasting psychological pain that no jail time can fix, and the sentencing delivered at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Brampton today does little to deter future violence against Muslims.

Advocates say Canada’s Muslim community is disappointed a man who assaulted worshippers at a Mississauga, Ont., mosque last year with bear spray and while brandishing a hatchet has received an eight-year sentence.

Hindy says the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Brampton recently heard Omar consumed Islamophobic content online and had a list of mosques he wanted to target before he chose the Islamic centre because it was closest to him.

Officers received a call regarding an assault just before 7 a.m. on March 19, 2022, at the Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre near Matheson Boulevard and Kennedy Road.

A witness said several people were inside the mosque for morning prayers when multiple people were sprayed in the eyes and throat with bear spray. Members of the mosque were able to subdue the man while someone called the police.

Omar was arrested at the scene.

The court heard Omar had been planning the hate-motivated attack against the Muslim community for over a year with a list of mosques he was considering.

Omar chose Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre a day before he entered and discharged bear spray toward people during morning prayer while brandishing a hatchet.

Then-Toronto Mayor John Tory, Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau strongly condemned the hate-motivated attack.

With files from The Canadian Press