"Hate incident" Canadian police arrest a man who threatened a worshiper in a mosque

Canadian police have arrested and charged a man with a "hate incident" at a mosque in Ontario after he allegedly insulted a worshiper. As a Canadian minister said: "This violence and Islamophobia have no place in our societies."

Canadian police said Sunday they have arrested and charged a man with what they described as a "hate incident" at a mosque in the province of Ontario after he walked up to a worshiper, threatened him and made religious insults.

York Police said in a statement that the incident took place in the town of Markham, while the suspect, 28-year-old Sharan Karunakaran, was arrested in Toronto.

"It is a hate crime, and it has no place in Canadian society," said Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng in a press statement.

"This violence and Islamophobia has no place in our societies," she added.

Local reports said someone came to the mosque in the town, 30 km north of Toronto, on Thursday, apparently tore up a Koran and shouted at worshippers.

Police said they charged the suspect with threat, assault with a weapon and dangerous driving, and he is expected to appear at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Newmarket on Tuesday.