July 3, 2025
RED FM News Desk
A disturbing late-night assault at a Pizza Pizza in Oshawa has left a local business owner injured and a community demanding answers, after a group of teenage girls allegedly swarmed and attacked the woman, forcibly removing her hijab in the process.
The incident took place just after midnight on Wednesday at the restaurant located at 199 Wentworth Street West. Witnesses say a group of youths, believed to be around 14 to 15 years old, entered the store and began causing a disturbance before the violence erupted.
Ferry Bansal, an employee who was present during the attack, said the group turned on the woman, the store’s owner, and a visibly Muslim woman, after she confronted one of them for allegedly trying to steal soft drinks.
“She tried to stop them, and that’s when it all started,” Bansal recalled. “They just jumped her. It was terrifying.”
According to Bansal, the woman was punched, stomped, and had her hijab ripped off during the altercation, though no explicit slurs were heard. “Even if they didn’t say anything, tearing off her hijab — that speaks volumes,” she added.
Durham Regional Police say they are reviewing all possible motives, including whether the attack was fueled by hate.
“It was reported that a group of individuals created a disturbance, and during an attempted theft, the victim intervened,” police said in a statement. “A violent struggle followed, during which multiple individuals assaulted the victim.”
Investigators are asking those involved to seek legal counsel and contact authorities as the investigation continues.
Meanwhile, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) has condemned the attack, expressing alarm at the apparent rise in Islamophobic incidents across the country.
“The facts are clear,” said NCCM Chief Operating Officer Omar Khamissa at a press conference on Thursday. “Islamophobic violence is escalating. What more needs to happen before meaningful action is taken?”
Khamissa urged politicians to go beyond statements of concern and commit to concrete solutions.
The victim, described as a woman in her 40s, is recovering from her injuries at home. Her daughter spoke publicly about the trauma her family is facing.
“This has shaken her to the core,” she said. “We’re still processing the shock. It’s not just about physical wounds — the emotional toll is immense.”
Anyone with information related to the attack is asked to contact Durham Regional Police.
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