Toronto police say a male suspect attacked a Muslim girl walking to school in Scarborough and allegedly cut her hijab with a pair of scissors.
Const. Jenniferjit Sidhu said that school staff told police the 11-year-old girl was walking to Pauline Johnson Junior Public School, off of Birchmount Road, north of Sheppard Avenue East at about 8:30 a.m.
She was allegedly approached from behind by a male who was carrying a pair of scissors.Sidhu said the girl told police she felt her hijab being cut and turned to see the male suspect. She then screamed and it scared the suspect off.
Sidhu said the girl then crossed the street and about 10 minutes later felt the same sensation and turned to see the man allegedly cutting her hijab again.
When she turned to confront him he stopped and ran away.
Sidhu said the girl was able to continue on to school, where she told school staff and the principal called police at 9:15 a.m. Sidhu said the girl did not sustain any injuries but her hijab was cut a number of times.
The suspect is described as an Asian male in his 20s with a medium build. He is between five-feet-eight to six-feet-tall.He has black hair and a moustache. He was last seen wearing glasses, a black hoodie and black pants.
Premier Kathleen Wynne expressed on Twitter about the incident.
This is a cowardly act of hatred, and it has no place in Ontario. This does not represent who we are. We must stand firm in our support of this young girl who was assaulted simply for wearing a hijab.
— Kathleen Wynne (@Kathleen_Wynne) January 12, 2018
