'Hijab attack' condemned by Trudeau exposed as fake

'Hijab attack' condemned by Trudeau exposed as fake

Khawlah Noman, 11, speaks to reporters last Saturday, with her mother, at Pauline Johnson Junior Public School in Toronto, alleging that a man cut her hijab with scissors. (Reuters photo)
Khawlah Noman, 11, speaks to reporters last Saturday, with her mother, at Pauline Johnson Junior Public School in Toronto, alleging that a man cut her hijab with scissors. (Reuters photo)

TORONTO: An 11-year-old Toronto girl's claim that she was assaulted by a man who tried to cut off her hijab never happened, Toronto police said Monday.

The police statement gave no indication as to what motivated Khawlah Noman's claim on Friday, which drew national attention, including from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Toronto Police spokesman Mark Pugash said Monday an extensive investigation was conducted and police concluded it did not happen.

"It's something that received, quite understandably, a lot of media and social media attention and I know it caused significant concern, as it should," Pugash said.

Trudeau had strongly condemned the attack in a statement issued after the girl's claim made national news in Canada.

"My heart goes out to Khawlah Noman following this morning's cowardly attack on her in Toronto. Canada is an open and welcoming country, and incidents like this cannot be tolerated.

But the attack never occurred.

Pugash declined to say whether the girl acknowledged it didn't happen. He said police wouldn't take a step like this unless they were absolutely confident.

"It is absolutely unusual," Pugash said.

Ryan Bird, a spokesman for the Toronto District School Board, said officials are "very thankful" that the alleged assault did not in fact happen.

The school declined further comment.

"After a detailed investigation, police have determined that the events described in the original news release did not happen," a police statement said.

Police reviewed surveillance camera footage and interviewed several residents who live near the Toronto primary school, where the girl said she was attacked by a man who cut her hijab with scissors as she walked to school with her younger brother.

"The investigation is concluded," the police statement said.

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