Mosque (that didn’t actually catch fire): Firebombed! The whole building could have caught fire! Could have been very serious! Hate Crimes Unit springs into action! Here:

A mosque in Hamilton was firebombed early Monday, prompting an investigation by the police force’s hate crimes unit.

A rock was thrown through a window at an Islamic school at the Hamilton Mosque sometime after midnight, police said.

A Molotov cocktail was then either thrown or placed inside the window, causing a blaze that petered out without causing significant damage, police said.

“It could have been very serious,” said Zakir Patel, the principal at the Islamic School of Hamilton.

“The whole building could have [caught] fire.”

Staff discovered the damage when they entered the building on 1545 Stone Church Road E.

The Hamilton police hate crimes and arson units are investigating the incident.

Church (destroyed by fire): Fire is “suspicious”. Gasoline canister found – one can speculate; there could be a connection. Maybe the gas can was empty. Arson suspected – oh well, one less church. Hate Crimes Unit conspicuously absent. Here:

Arson suspected at historic Whitby church.
Police called the fire “suspicious” and are treating the area as a crime scene. They are asking any witnesses to come forward to help with their investigation.

Police confirmed a gasoline canister was found outside the church. “At this point, we haven’t made an actual determination that that has something to do with the fire,” said Jamie Grant, a Durham police spokesman.

“One can speculate … there may be some connection.”

It is not immediately clear whether the canister was empty or full.