Windsor police are investigating two break-ins that happened at two different schools last week.
Just before 8:30 p.m. last Thursday Oct. 3, police say they found two broken windows once they arrived at Marlborough school on Melbourne Road in the west end.
Then five hours later, at 1:30 a.m. the next day, they responded to a break-in at the Windsor Islamic High School on Alexis Road.
Officers discovered damage to property inside the school.
The Windsor Police Target Base Unit, which deals with break ins, is leading the investigation. But at this time police say there is no evidence to show the two break ins are related or motivated by hate.
The school break-ins took place five hours apart. (CBC News)
The National Council of Canadian Muslims, an advocacy group, said that security footage of the incident shows three people who broke into the school to “deliberately cause a significant amount of vandalism and property damage.”
A video posted by the group shows someone spraying a substance into the air.
“We urge authorities and leaders to investigate this incident thoroughly, particularly from a hate crimes angle,” the group said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
What appears to be a fire extinguisher is sprayed down a school hallway at Windsor Islamic High School. (National Council of Canadian Muslims/X)
According to the school, one of the intruders was armed with a baseball bat and items such as computers were destroyed, a fire extinguisher discharged and furniture and fixtures were vandalized.
“We urge all Muslim institutions and mosques to remain vigilant and consider enhancing their security measures,” Windsor Islamic High School said in an online statement.
Windsor Islamic High School says the school was vandalized in the early hours of Oct. 3, 2024. It’s located at 1646 Alexis Road in the border city. (National Council of Canadian Muslims/Instagram)
Police are asking for help from anyone who may have video surveillance footage.