NCCMtv's video: NCCM Spokesperson Speaks on Guilty Plea of Dar Al Tawheed Islamic Centre Attacker

The morning of March 19th, 2022 was a quiet one. Calm, routine, and slightly overcast, community members trickled into Mississauga’s Dar al-Tawheed Islamic Centre for another morning prayer just after 6am. They expected nothing more than a routine morning of worship and reflection. No one could foresee the grotesque transformation of that morning into their worst nightmares. As the worshippers lined up behind the imam to perform the prayer, their minds turned towards God. None of them were worried about what might pass through the entrance behind them. Yet it was during these moments of faithful serenity and prayer that a man — the same man who entered his guilty plea some moments ago — intruded onto sacred ground with one thing in mind: to kill the Muslims in that room. He was armed with a hatchet in one hand, bear spray in the other, and knives strapped to his body. He made his way behind the worshippers and started his attack by using his bear spray, which spread throughout the room and immediately suffocated several worshippers. This alerted them that something was wrong. Many had no doubt heard of attacks at mosques, or have seen news of such intrusions on TV. But none expected to be the victims of an attack. Thank God, it took 20 or so worshippers to physically overwhelm the attacker. If it were not for their bravery, we may very well have attended several funerals. They could have been the victims of another Quebec City style attack. Or the truck attack in London, Ontario, which occurred just months before. Or the murder of a caretaker at the IMO mosque in Rexdale, not too far from here. Today, the survivors of the Dar Al Tawheed community finally received the troubling answers about what happened that morning from the attacker himself. Today’s guilty plea confirms that the attacker’s actions last March were the product of his Islamophobic convictions. He went into the mosque with the goal of killing Muslims. We now know from today's disclosures that he had planned the attack for around a year. We know he was happy about what he did, and that he had many more weapons in the trunk of his car and at home. Including a flamethrower. We know he saw the Quebec City shooting and the New Zealand shooting in March 2019 as inspiration. He liked watching videos of Muslim women being shot. He planned to target another mosque in Toronto, as well as the Pakistani consulate, but decided they were to far to drive towards. We should all recognize these facts and reflect on the troubling trend that has beset this country: the trend of individuals violently attacking Muslims for who they are and what they believe. Though we are relieved that the truth about what happened that morning is out, its implications remain deeply concerning for all Canadians. And though we are glad that terrorism charges were laid, we cannot help but worry for our community. Those who endured the attack can never be the same. Their mornings will never be the same. Their prayers will likely never be the same again. Some look over their shoulders to this day. Others cannot make their way to the mosque without disturbing their inner peace. Still others plan their exit before they even start praying, just in case there is an attack. This is the reality within which we live. We must believe it, we must grapple with it. But we must not accept it. We cannot accept a reality in which the freedom to worship is threatened by acts of hate. We ask that you stand with the Dar-al-Tawheed community, with those who stand against Islamophobia and hate.