Montreal man who violently broke into a downtown mosque sentenced to 9 months in jail

A Montreal man who violently broke into a downtown mosque during Ramadan in April, pleaded guilty, saying he committed the acts because he was intoxicated.

“I have nothing against Muslims,” said Cory Anderson before he was sentenced to nine months in jail on Friday at the Montreal courthouse – according to The Journal de Montreal.

The 32-year-old admitted his crimes against the Al Oumma Mosque on Saint-Dominique Street. Armed with a shovel found nearby, he had arrived at the mosque during morning prayers on April 9 at around 5 a.m. – and threatened a worshipper.

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The victim, fled into the place of worship before Anderson began banging on a door with a long stick. He’s seen on surveillance video throwing a cement block at a door, and going into the mosque through an unlocked entrance.

Other worshippers managed to get him to leave, while someone called the police. No one was injured.

“This case had the appearance of a hate crime, but it wasn’t,” said judge Anne-Marie Manoukian. Adding Anderson was heavily intoxicated, and he could have targeted any location.

The fear felt by worshippers, however, was very real.

“People who are going to pray should be able to do so in peace,” said one of them in a letter filed with the court.

“I’m very sorry for what I did,” Anderson said. I need counseling for my addiction…”

Anderson was sentenced to nine months and he will then have to serve two years of probation.