Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned violent Islamophobic gunshots fired at the Rahma Islamic Centre in Winnipeg on Wednesday night, July 30, 2026. Two individuals opened fire from a vehicle and later vandalized the property while congregants were inside, prompting calls from Muslim leaders for an updated national strategy against Islamophobia.
Canadian authorities launched an investigation into what leaders describe as a targeted hate crime following a late-night shooting at a Winnipeg place of worship. The incident at the Radio Canada unfolded in two distinct waves on Wednesday evening, leaving congregants and community leaders shaken as police stepped up neighborhood patrols.
The Rahma Islamic Centre Attack and Police Response in Winnipeg
According to community representatives, two individuals in a vehicle opened fire on the building from the street while people were gathered inside. Later that same night, two people approached the property on foot, smashed windows, and vandalized the outer walls. Surveillance cameras captured the assault, which did not result in physical injuries because the attackers failed to breach the interior.
Winnipeg police officers arrived at the scene around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, confirming that multiple windows had been freshly shattered. The resulting damage is estimated at more than 3,000 Canadian dollars. Investigators from the major crimes unit and hate crimes coordination team have taken up the case, though no suspects have been identified and no arrests have been made.
Earlier on Wednesday, witnesses reported that a vehicle’s occupants hurled racial slurs at people standing near the entrance of the Islamic center. Community representatives state that the individuals involved in the verbal abuse are probably the same people who returned later to carry out the shooting and vandalism.
Prime Minister Mark Carney Condemns Violent Islamophobia
Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the attack on Thursday through social media, labeling the incident as a violent Islamophobic gesture that has no place in the country.
Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, stated that he was deeply distressed to learn that shots had been fired the previous evening at the Rahma Islamic Centre in Winnipeg, calling the violent Islamophobic act revolting and stating it has no place in Canada, adding that he was relieved no one was injured and fully supported law enforcement in their efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
The federal condemnation came as Muslim leaders in Winnipeg voiced mounting anxiety over community safety. Feisal Adem, the imam and director of the Rahma Islamic Centre, spoke out about the emotional toll of the violence, stating that the peace and sense of security once enjoyed by members have been deeply shaken by the events.
National Muslim Advocates Call for Action Against Rising Hate
Representatives from the National Council of Canadian Muslims condemned the shooting as an Anadolu Ajansı observed across the country in recent weeks. Sadaf Ahmed, public policy and government affairs lead at the organization, urged the federal government to task its newly created advisory council with developing a revised national strategy to counter Islamophobia.
Advocates highlighted a troubling pattern of recent hostility targeting Muslim establishments in Winnipeg. Prior to the Rahma Islamic Centre attack, local incidents included smashed windows at the Habibiz Café on Portage Avenue and a swastika painted on the walls of the Abu Bakr Al-Siddique community center and mosque.
Fatema Abdallah of the National Council of Canadian Muslims pointed out that these fresh wounds evoke national tragedies, recalling the Quebec City mosque shooting where six worshippers lost their lives, as well as the 2021 truck attack in London, Ontario, that killed four members of a Muslim family.
Increased Police Presence Across Winnipeg Mosques
In response to the community’s demands for heightened security, the Winnipeg Police Service confirmed plans to step up patrols. Officers will maintain an increased presence inside and around the Rahma Islamic Centre, as well as at other mosques throughout the neighborhood, while the major crimes division continues its active investigation into the shootings.
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