Islamic elementary school bus vandalized with fire extinguisher

A Hamilton Police vehicle is seen in Hamilton, Ont., Friday, May 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

A school bus belonging to an Islamic elementary school in Hamilton was vandalized last week, which police said is being investigated as a hate-motivated mischief.

The incident occurred between May 26 and May 31 while the vehicle was parked near Mohawk Road and Upper Sherman Avenue, investigators say.

An unknown number of suspects entered the school bus, sprayed a fire extinguisher throughout the vehicle, damaged seats, stole property, and left anti-Muslim graffiti, Hamilton police said in a press release.

No suspect description has been released.

The bus belongs to Waterdown Islamic School, police said.

Aslam Rana, MP for Hamilton Centre, called the incident a “targeted and deeply troubled act.”

“School buses were allegedly followed, and damage was caused to their accelerators,” she added.

Rana said the damages would have put the children riding the bus in harm’s way if they hadn’t been noticed.

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath called the vandal’s actions “reprehensible, cowardly, and completely unacceptable.”

“These hateful acts strike at the values of inclusion, respect, and safety that define our city, and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” she said.