Canada Mosque Bomb Plot — Newmarket, Ontario
In September 2025, Donald Cameron, a 54-year-old HVAC technician from Newmarket, Ontario, was arrested after allegedly threatening to blow up the Newmarket Islamic Centre and murder his Muslim neighbours — including children — by tampering with gas lines using his professional expertise. Cameron had been a neighbour of the targeted family for 14 years but had been consuming large amounts of Islamophobic content online. The plot was foiled when another neighbour reported the threats to York Regional Police's Hate Crime Prevention Unit. Cameron was charged with two counts of uttering threats. The NCCM, Mayor John Taylor, and the Canadian Muslim Forum condemned the incident and called for urgent action against rising Islamophobia. Despite the threats, the Newmarket Islamic Centre broke ground on a new $6-million facility in December 2025.
Timeline
December 13, 2025
Newmarket Islamic Centre Breaks Ground on New Building
Despite the threats, the Newmarket Islamic Centre broke ground on a new $6-million, 17,000-square-foot permanent facility at 700 Mulock Dr., after raising over $1.5 million over 10 years. The centre serves more than 900 Muslim families in the Newmarket and Aurora area, signalling community resilience.
SourceSeptember 10, 2025
Canadian Muslim Forum Urges Urgent Action
The Canadian Muslim Forum issued a statement urging urgent action against Islamophobia in Canada following the Newmarket threats. The forum called attention to the broader pattern of anti-Muslim hatred and demanded concrete government measures to protect Muslim communities.
SourceSeptember 10, 2025
Online Radicalization Concerns Raised
Advocacy groups highlighted that Cameron had allegedly consumed large amounts of Islamophobic and anti-Muslim content online. The targeted family's statement noted it was 'deeply disturbing and unsettling' that someone in their community 'was consuming and sharing far right, anti-Muslim content and beliefs while planning violent attacks.'
SourceSeptember 9, 2025
International Media Coverage
The incident gained international attention with outlets including Daily Sabah, Muslim News UK, and Al Jazeera covering the story. Reports highlighted the suspect's 14-year relationship with the targeted family and his consumption of far-right anti-Muslim content online as evidence of radicalization.
SourceSeptember 8, 2025
NCCM Press Conference and Family Statement
The National Council of Canadian Muslims held a press conference where the targeted family's statement was read. The father said he hoped the experience would 'alert the people of Newmarket to the severity of this incident and highlight the urgent need to address Islamophobia.' NCCM detailed the suspect's alleged use of HVAC expertise to plan the attack.
SourceSeptember 8, 2025
Mayor John Taylor Condemns the Threats
Newmarket Mayor John Taylor spoke at the press conference, saying he had spoken with the targeted family and that hearing 'how deeply it impacted this family is disturbing.' The mayor expressed support for the Muslim community in Newmarket.
SourceSeptember 8, 2025
NCCM Calls for Action on Hate Crimes
NCCM chief mobilization officer Omar Khamissa stated: 'We have the right to be angry in the face of these threats and attempts to intimidate Muslims in our community. Do we have to wait for more bloodshed before action is actually taken?' He called for real solutions to respond to hate crimes.
SourceSeptember 4, 2025
Donald Cameron Arrested and Charged
York Regional Police arrested Donald Cameron, 54, of Newmarket and charged him with two counts of uttering threats. The investigation was treated as a hate-motivated crime. Police noted the suspect had consumed large amounts of Islamophobic and anti-Muslim content online.
SourceSeptember 4, 2025
York Regional Police Issue Public Statement
York Regional Police publicly announced the arrest and confirmed they were treating the incident as a hate-motivated crime involving threats against the Muslim community of Newmarket. Police detailed the suspect's alleged plan to use his HVAC expertise to tamper with gas lines.
SourceSeptember 3, 2025
Neighbour Reports Threats to York Regional Police
A neighbour in whom Cameron had confided his alleged plans reported the threats to York Regional Police. Officers were notified two days after the threats were made, triggering an investigation by the Hate Crime Prevention Unit.
SourceSeptember 1, 2025
Threats Made Against Muslim Family and Mosque
Donald Cameron, 54, allegedly made explicit verbal threats to blow up the Newmarket Islamic Centre and to kill his Muslim neighbour and their children by tampering with gas lines using his HVAC expertise. He confided these plans to another neighbour.
SourceQuick Stats