Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating a violent parking lot altercation in southeastern New Brunswick as a potential hate crime after a video of the incident surfaced online. The footage appears to show a woman assaulting a Muslim woman while a man shouts at the victim.

New Brunswick Assault Under Investigation

The video, which lacks audio, depicts one woman repeatedly striking another in a Moncton, N.B., parking lot. Steven Zhou, a spokesperson for the National Council of Canadian Muslims, confirmed that the attacker allegedly yelled for the victim to "go back to her country." This incident occurred in the presence of the victim's seven-year-old son.

Zhou stated that the entire family is traumatized, with the victim suffering a concussion, a bloody nose, and facial swelling. The National Council of Canadian Muslims has been in contact with the family since the incident.

Impact on Family and Community

The seven-year-old son's behavior has changed significantly since the alleged assault, according to his father. Zhou relayed that the child experiences "tremendous fears" of being located and harmed, feeling unsafe even within his own home. This suggests a long-term psychological impact on the young boy.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims reports a notable increase in anti-Muslim incidents, including assaults, vandalism, and harassment, particularly since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in late 2023. A further spike has been observed in the past six to eight weeks, with daily reports becoming common.

Broader Trends in Hate Crimes

Statistics Canada data shows a rise in reported hate crimes. In 2025, 4,708 hate crimes were reported to police, a 40 percent increase from 2021. Race or ethnicity motivated approximately half of these incidents, with religion a factor in an additional 24 percent.

  • Recent incidents include a suspicious package found outside a Montreal Islamic center and charges laid against a man in Halifax following a racist tirade.
  • In June, an imam in Victoria, B.C., was attacked outside his home.

Official Response and Calls to Action

RCMP confirmed they were dispatched to the parking lot incident Saturday night and are working to determine if hate was a motivating factor. While they are aware of the video and believe individuals involved have been identified, no updates on arrests were available as of Friday morning.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims is advocating for a federal strategy to combat Islamophobia, requiring collaboration from community leaders and government representatives at all levels. New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt expressed deep disturbance by the parking lot incident, stating there is no place for Islamophobia in the province.

Local Member of Parliament Ginette Petitpas Taylor echoed outrage, emphasizing the rising trend of hate-motivated crimes in Canada and the necessity of collective action to prevent division.