Edmonton man faces charges after alleged attack on Muslim woman near mosque

An Edmonton man is facing charges after an alleged attack on a Muslim woman near a mosque in Edmonton.

Edmonton police say that Jeffrey Hill, 34, has been charged with mischief under $5,000 and uttering threats.

"The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) is deeply concerned about an attack that took place in Edmonton on Saturday, January 1, 2022, against a Muslim woman and her children in front of a mosque in Edmonton, Alberta,” said NCCM in a statement. “This attack comes on the heels of other attacks on visibly Muslim women, primarily Black Muslim women who wear the hijab, in Alberta.”

“Like so many Albertans, I am frustrated, sad and angry by this attack on a mother and her children,” said Leader of Alberta's NDP Rachel Notley. “This is an urgent reminder that Anti-Muslim actions and hate-crimes are on the rise in Alberta and we must act now to prevent any further hate-motivated crimes in this province.”

“Investigators have also recommended that Section 718.2 of the Criminal Code of Canada be applied in this case, allowing the courts to consider increased sentencing when there is evidence the offence was motivated by hatred,” police said in an email Tuesday.

“(The Edmonton Police Service) continues to provide supports to the family through its crime and trauma-informed support services.”