Windsor's Muslim community is organizing a vigil to show solidarity with those in Edmonton after a terrorist attack in that city over the weekend.
Pending the proper permission, the vigil will be at Windsor City Hall Square Tuesday between 6pm and 7pm.
"The terrorist attack against innocent Canadians in Edmonton was a heinous criminal act that was meant to divide us and turn us against one another," reads a statement from the Windsor Islamic Council. "Let us be clear that such criminal acts by the misguided are anti-Islamic and anti-Muslim, and that these acts only serve to claim innocent lives and defame our faith."
The council says it is holding the vigil to stand united against hate and terror, send a "strong message to all terrorists and haters that they won't divide Canadians," and to send prayers for the speedy recovery of the victims of Saturday night's attack.
Edmonton police have charged a 30-year-old Somali refugee with terrorism charges after a police officer was struck by a car and then stabbed repeatedly. Constable Mike Chernyk survived and is expected to make a full recovery, but four other people were hurt when a rental cube van struck pedestrians while fleeing police.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police say the suspect was brought to their attention in 2015 after police learned he might have been radicalized. After an interview, the man was released because investigators did not believe he posed a threat.
