The police announced that they are holding a man after a suspected hate-motivated incident, in which he allegedly drove a car directly towards a worshiper in a mosque in the Toronto area, shouting threats and racist insults.

A statement issued by the York Regional Police on Sunday also reported that they located Sharan Karunakaran, 28 years old, a resident of Toronto, and arrested him shortly after midnight on Friday.

The statement said that officers responded on Thursday to a call about disturbances at a mosque on Denison Street in Markham, Ontario. Eyewitnesses reported that a suspect, Karunakaran, came to the mosque in a car and drove directly toward one of the worshipers, shouting threats and religious insults. The police said the suspect drove dangerously in the parking lot before leaving the area.

Karunakaran was charged with one count related to uttering threats, one count of assault with a weapon, and one count related to dangerous driving, noting that the charges have not been proven in court.

The accused was held on bail at a hearing and is scheduled to appear in court on April 11 in Newmarket, Ontario.

On her part, Mary Ng, the local Member of Parliament and Federal Minister of Trade, said on Saturday that she was “deeply disturbed” upon learning of the alleged attack.

The Federal Minister of Housing, Diversity, and Inclusion, Ahmed Hussen, also issued a statement regarding the attack.

The minister wrote: “I am deeply saddened by the hate-motivated attack that took place outside the Islamic Association in Markham on April 6, during the holy month of Ramadan.”

He added: “The rise in Islamophobic attacks is very concerning and we must stand against it, and we will not let hate prevail.”

The Islamic Association in Markham also said it plans to hold a press conference on Monday to provide further details.

The investigation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the York Regional Police in conjunction with the Intelligence Unit and Hate Crimes Unit is still ongoing, and the police say they are concerned about the possibility of additional victims, and if so, they encourage them to testify.

Anyone with information is also asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Bureau of District 5 at 18668765423, extension 7541, or call Crime Stoppers at 1800222-TIPS, or leave anonymous information online at www.1800222tips.com.