Mounties investigate possible hate crime after bacon found outside B.C. mosque

PORT COQUITLAM, B.C. – Mounties are investigating the possibility of a hate crime after several piles of bacon were found outside a mosque in Port Coquitlam, B.C.

Police say it’s the second such act of vandalism and mischief at the Islamic Society of British Columbia mosque and Islamic centre in the last 18 months.

Muslims consider pork a symbol of impurity.

Society president Saad Bahr says it’s clear the action was intended to offend, but his group would welcome the opportunity to speak to those responsible to have them learn more about Muslim beliefs.

Coquitlam RCMP Supt. Claude Wilcott says police are disturbed that someone would deliberately choose to target the society and investigators haven’t been able to eliminate the possibility that the two incidents were motivated by hatred.

Mounties say they’re looking for the public’s help in trying to find who dumped the bacon, which was discovered last Wednesday.