Arrest made after Muslim woman, daughter faced ‘terrifying’ threats Hamilton police believe was hate crime

Mother, 62, and daughter, 26, say in statement they are 'shaken but unbroken'

By Christine Rankin, Bobby Hristova 

(CBC NEWS) A 40-year-old man was arrested by Hamilton police Tuesday in what is being investigated as a hate crime after a Muslim mother and her daughter faced racial slurs and threats to their lives.

Police say the mother, 62, and daughter, 26, were walking through a parking lot in the Ancaster Meadowlands area around 9:30 p.m. ET on Monday. A vehicle pulled out of a parking spot, officers say, and almost hit one of them. 

The driver uttered threats toward the mother and daughter while using slurs targeting the Muslim community, according to police.

The mother and daughter ran across the street and hid behind some bushes, according to police. Officers say the man searched for them and threatened to kill them when he found them.

One of the women ran screaming for help, police say, and people nearby intervened. The man drove away.  

Const. Indy Bharaj, a police spokesperson, said the service is working with the mother and daughter to connect them with resources.

Family is ‘shaken but unbroken’

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) said in a statement to CBC News it is deeply saddened by the incident and the women were wearing hijabs.

NCCM also shared a statement from the family they received from police and said the family wants privacy at this time.