The suspect fled the scene but was later located and arrested by officers.
A Muslim woman was assaulted at a public library in Canada on Saturday in what authorities describe as an unprovoked attack. The suspect allegedly attempted to remove the woman's hijab and set it on fire.
Durham Regional Police responded to a report of an assault at the Ajax Public Library in Ontario, approximately 50 miles east of Toronto, around noon.
According to a police statement released Sunday, the victim was studying in the library when she was approached by an unknown woman who began shouting profanities and throwing objects at her head.
The suspect then attempted to remove the victim’s hijab, poured an unidentified liquid on it, and grabbed a lighter in an attempt to ignite it, police said. The victim screamed for help, prompting security personnel at the library to intervene.
The suspect fled the scene but was later located and arrested by officers.
Kaley-Ann Freier, 25, has been charged with two counts of assault with a weapon and three counts of failing to comply with a probation order. Police confirmed that she remains in custody pending a bail hearing. It remains unclear whether she has legal representation.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities stated that they are consulting with the Crown Attorney’s Office to determine whether the case meets the legal criteria for being classified as a hate crime.
Both Durham Regional Police and the Crown Attorney’s Office have yet to respond to media inquiries regarding the incident. Police have urged anyone with relevant information to contact their West Division Criminal Investigation Bureau.
At a press conference on Monday, members of Canada’s Muslim community and local Ajax officials read a statement from the victim, as reported by CTV.
"I never imagined that a quiet visit to my favorite spot in the library would turn into one of the most terrifying experiences of my life," the statement read. The victim recounted that she initially ignored the suspect, who was murmuring and cursing, but the situation escalated when objects were thrown at her. She had considered notifying the librarian but did not get the chance before the attack worsened.
“I keep thinking, ‘What if the lighter had worked? What if my hijab had caught fire?’” she said in the statement. She also expressed fear for her daughters, who wear the hijab, saying the incident has shaken her sense of safety in public spaces.
Omar Khamissa, Chief Operating Officer of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, highlighted at the news conference that Canada has recorded the highest number of Islamophobia-related deaths among G7 nations in the past seven years.
"What happened on Saturday could have easily added to that number," Khamissa said. He emphasized the need for political parties to present concrete plans to address Islamophobia and hate, especially with elections approaching next month, following their recent rescheduling from October.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also addressed the attack in a statement on X, calling it part of a larger issue.
"Islamophobia is real, it is dangerous, and it must stop," he wrote.
New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh described the attack as "horrifying," adding that divisive rhetoric fuels hatred and contradicts Canadian values.
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This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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