Early Thursday morning in Scarborough, Toronto, two vehicles were set ablaze outside the home of Liberal Member of Parliament Salma Zahid, prompting an ongoing police investigation into suspected arson. The incident occurred around 1:21 a.m. in the driveway of Ms. Zahid’s residence on a residential street in east Toronto. A third vehicle also sustained damage but was not fully engulfed by flames. No injuries were reported.

Neighbours alerted authorities after hearing an explosion and witnessing the vehicles on fire. Victoria Konstantellos, a close neighbor, recounted waking her mother and alerting other residents to the blaze, expressing concern over the potential spread of flames to nearby homes. Parvinder Singh, a resident whose car was reportedly among those damaged, described the moment as “unimaginable.” Toronto Police confirmed the arson investigation is ongoing but have not disclosed whether the attack was targeted.

Ms. Zahid, who has represented Scarborough Centre-Don Valley East since 2015 and made history in 2018 as the first MP to wear a hijab in the House of Commons, shared footage from home and neighbours’ security cameras showing a person pouring gasoline on several cars before igniting two of them. In response to the attack, she temporarily closed her constituency office as a precaution and emphasized her commitment to public service, stating that such acts would not deter her work.

The incident has sparked condemnation from various quarters. Prime Minister Mark Carney described the attack as “a cowardly act of violence and intimidation” inconsistent with Canadian values. The National Council of Canadian Muslims expressed shock and concern, noting the impact on the broader community given Ms. Zahid’s longstanding advocacy for human rights and opposition to racism.

This event is the second in nearly two years involving a vehicle fire on the same street, with a previous case under investigation from 2024. It occurs within a broader context of increasing threats and harassment toward Canadian parliamentarians. Security officials report a sharp rise over recent years in threatening behavior against MPs, with the House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms noting an increase from eight security files in 2019 to 530 in 2023, alongside a 700 percent rise in documented threats and harassment since 2019.

Female MPs, in particular, have reported escalating abuse and threats. Instances include physical harassment directed at former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland and surveillance and intimidation experienced by Liberal MP Iqra Khalid. Former Environment Minister Catherine McKenna also sought enhanced security in response to ongoing threats.

In light of these developments, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme has recommended revisiting federal laws to facilitate the prosecution of individuals who threaten elected officials, citing resource challenges faced by law enforcement in managing the increasing security demands. RCMP data indicate that threats against public officials have doubled from approximately 1,300 in 2022 to 2,600 in 2023, with projections exceeding 3,500 for 2024. Authorities continue to investigate the arson attack as part of efforts to enhance the safety of elected representatives and their communities.