Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned the pepper spray attack on Syrian refugees in Vancouver.
"This isn't who we are - and doesn't reflect the warm welcome Canadians have offered," Trudeau wrote on his Twitter account on Saturday.
I condemn the attack on Syrian refugees in Vancouver. This isn't who we are - and doesn't reflect the warm welcome Canadians have offered.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 9, 2016
An unknown assailant pepper sprayed a group of Syrian refugees Friday evening outside the Muslim Association of Canada Centre in Vancouver. At least two dozen refugees, including women and children, were injured. Reports said that none of them were seriously injured.
"We saw people coming out from the building and they were in worse condition than us. Their eyes were really puffed up. They weren't able to open their eyes," eyewitness Nawal Addo said, according to Globe and Mail newspaper.
Federal Immigration Minister John McCallum described the attack as a "disturbing crime" and assured safety to recently arrived Syrian refugees.
"Canadians know that this incident is an affront to our values as a nation, and is at odds with the overwhelmingly positive welcome that Syrian refugees have received in communities across our country," McCallum said in a statement, according to Newswire Canada.
Vancouver Police swung into action Friday night and are investigating the incident as a hate crime, The Toronto Star reported. They have also launched a manhunt for the unidentified suspect.
More than 6,000 Syrian refugees arrived in Canada by Jan. 1. Trudeau's government has committed to welcome 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of next month.
