“Report Anti-Muslim Hate Wherever You See It!”

A Muslim man of Palestinian descent (identity withheld by police) who was injured in an alleged hate-motivated attack on Canada Day (July 1, 2026) while he and his family were walking in a park is urging the public to report these types of assaults immediately, rather than remain silent out of fear.

In an interview with a local news portal in Toronto, the man recounted the horror of the incident. He explained that the violent attack, which led to his hospitalization, instilled a profound fear in him for the well-being of his wife, his 63-year-old mother, and his two very young children. 

“It’s the sheer terror of it! Not only what it does to you, but how it affects your family, especially the young children,” he expressed.

“This was anti-Muslim hate, plain and simple. My family members were visibly Muslim (wearing hijabs), and that’s why this happened to us.” 

“We’re a family of Palestinian descent during a time when Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism are rising together. The statistics show it; families like mine actually feel and experience it,” he explained.

According to a statement from the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), the incident began when an individual approached the family and directed anti-Muslim slurs and obscenities at them, including the phrase, “f*** Muslims.”

The Thunder Bay Police Service’s hate crime unit became involved in the investigation, and on July 15, officers arrested a suspect.

The victim noted that since the incident, many people in the community have shared their own stories with him. “Some never reported their experiences, while others who did felt disillusioned when they saw no action taken,” he said, adding that hate-motivated attacks have worsened over the past two to three years.

“So, please report such incidents to the police and organizations like NCCM immediately, so they can’t just disappear or be brushed under the carpet by those in authority who are supposed to protect the Canadian Muslim community from such acts.”

In an email statement from the NCCM, Steven Zhou, media and communications lead, expressed relief that charges had been laid in connection with the horrific attack against a Muslim Palestinian community member. Zhou emphasized the hope that justice will be served and that the survivors of this alleged attack will begin their healing process.

“Hate is on the rise in Canada. For the past few weeks, NCCM has been receiving reports of similar Islamophobic attacks, threats, vandalism, and intimidation daily. We need to fight against this wave of hate before it becomes the new normal.”

Zhou urged all leaders to denounce Islamophobia and called on elected officials to collaborate with the community to create a pathway forward.

Since coming forward, the victim shared that the support from the Thunder Bay community has helped his family through this terrible experience. He specifically acknowledged NCCM for their prompt and professional assistance in advocating for urgent legal action against the accused. He also expressed gratitude to “our member of parliament, Minister Patty Hajdu, whose statement meant a great deal, especially to my mother,” as well as to his local mosque, his neighbors, and “even strangers who rallied around us and did not leave us alone.”

The alleged perpetrator, Timothy Cambly, 41, of Thunder Bay, has been charged with three counts of assault, one count of assault causing bodily harm, one count of causing a disturbance, and one count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.

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