Waterdown Islamic School bus vandalized

Classes at the Waterdown Islamic School remain cancelled this week following a targeted act of vandalism and hate speech that compromised a school bus over the weekend.

The Hamilton Police Service’s hate crime unit has launched an investigation into the incident, which has left families shaken and local leaders demanding answers.

The vehicle, clearly designated for the private Islamic school on Innovation Drive, was parked in a designated lot on Mohawk Road alongside several other school buses.

According to a school representative, it was the only vehicle singled out for destruction.

Investigators believe the incident occurred sometime between May 26 and May 31, when the damage was officially discovered.

The interior of the bus was heavily targeted: seats were shredded, a fire extinguisher was completely discharged inside the cabin, and anti-Muslim slurs were scrawled across the upholstery.

An image released by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) showed a torn bus seat defaced with a profanity directly preceding the word "Muslim."

Beyond the property damage and hateful slurs, local authorities and community leaders expressed profound concern over what appeared to be intentional mechanical sabotage.

In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), Hamilton Centre MP Aslam Rana brought to light the potentially dangerous nature of the attack:

"This was a targeted and deeply troubling act. School buses were allegedly followed, and damage was caused to their accelerators. Had these issues gone unnoticed and the buses been operated, the consequences could have been severe, potentially putting children at risk. Islamophobic slurs were also reportedly found on the buses, making it clear that this was an act motivated by hate."

The principal of Waterdown Islamic School confirmed that administrators made the difficult decision to cancel all classes starting Monday, June 1, citing overwhelming safety concerns from parents.

The administration is working to reassess safety protocols before students return to the building.

The incident has drawn swift condemnation from civil liberties groups and community members who describe the targeting of a school vehicle as a severe escalation of Islamophobic sentiment.

Hamilton Police are treating the incident as a hate-motivated crime.

They are reviewing surrounding surveillance footage and urging anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the Mohawk Road lot over the weekend, or who has relevant dashcam footage, to immediately contact the Hamilton Police Hate Crime Unit or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers.

Sources & References

• Primary Source (Social Media Report): Public statement issued by Hamilton Centre MP Aslam Rana via X (formerly Twitter) highlighting allegations of vehicular tracking and accelerator sabotage.
• Secondary Source (Local News Coverage): Comprehensive reporting from CBC News Hamilton, "Waterdown Islamic school bus vandalized", detailing the school's response, the temporary cancellation of classes, and the ongoing investigation by the Hamilton Police Hate Crime Unit.