COLD LAKE, Alta. - A mosque in northeastern Alberta is being cleaned up after a brick was thrown through its windows and a "go home" message was painted on the wall.
Board member Mahmoud Elkabri (ell-CAB'-ree) says he noticed the vandalism when he went to open the doors for morning prayers.
He says his family has lived in Cold Lake since 1996 and he has always felt welcome.
He believes the vandals could be from outside the community and doesn't think the act is connected to any anti-Muslim sentiment following attacks on soldiers in Ottawa and Quebec.
Elkabri says the mosque has been open for four years and has been targeted before, but that was part of vandalism done to businesses in the area.
Cold Lake is home to a large military base and, earlier this week, six Canadian CF-18 fighter jets departed from there to join the international mission combating Islamic extremists in Iraq.
Photo Courtesy: Cold Lake Sun
