Police in Surrey, B.C., seek person of interest in vandalism at mosque

SURREY — Police in Surrey, B.C., have released an image and description of a person of interest after a mosque in the Metro Vancouver city was vandalized with threatening language and pieces of raw bacon were left outside its doors.

A statement from police says the man was captured on surveillance video footage at the Fleetwood Islamic Centre before community members discovered the vandalism last weekend, though his face cannot be seen in the image.

The man is described as wearing a dark green hoodie with red lettering on the front as well as red shoes with white soles and carrying a blue bag.

The man is believed to have been driving a white four-door sedan.

Police say they’re working to determine whether hate was a motivating factor in the vandalism, which occurred between 11 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday.

The Fleetwood Islamic Academy Society has said messages written on the walls of the mosque stated “get out or die” and “Islam is trash,” with Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke calling the incident “deeply offensive and heartbreaking.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 2, 2026.

The Canadian Press