London's vibrant halal community was rocked by a shocking incident on November 29, when two employees at Mona's Fine Meats were attacked with pepper spray. The attack occurred just before 4 p.m., when a man clad entirely in black and with most of his face concealed entered the store, targeting its employees.
Ramadan Naghmoush, co-owner of the halal butcher shop located at 699 Wilkins Street, described the incident as particularly distressing. "He came in face covered. The only thing you could see were his eyes," Naghmoush recounted, highlighting the robber's stealthy approach as he crept past customers and staff. After the attack, he shared surveillance footage with CBC London, which shows the assailant launching the pepper spray directly at one male employee before fleeing the scene.
Lubna Hayajneh, another employee who was at the counter, heard screaming and initially mistook it for a prank. "At the beginning, I thought it was a prank and I thought he was a friend. But [the male employee] started screaming so loudly. He was in pain," she explained. Hayajneh described how she pursued the attacker, only to be sprayed herself. "I couldn’t see anything. I just put my hands on my face because it was burning like crazy," she said, adding it left her feeling helpless as she rushed to find relief.
Both victims were immediately taken to the hospital for treatment, with the injuries caused by the pepper spray reported to be severe but not life-threatening. Following the incident, Naghmoush was called back to the store by his business partner after leaving just moments before the attack. He recounted, "I was on my way home...when I got the call saying we have been sprayed with something we don’t know and everybody is sick." Upon returning, he found the victims already receiving medical attention, alongside the arrival of police.
The store, typically open until 9 p.m., had to close premature with Naghmoush emphasizing the impact of this violent attack on the community shop, which has served London for 25 years. "It's a big loss for us, but what can we do?" he stated. Despite the ordeal, he expressed gratitude for the safety of his employees, saying, "as long as my guys are OK, that's what counts." Naghmoush noted he's never experienced anything like this at the store before and assured customers of their dedication to service.
Surveillance footage captured the intruder’s every move, down to him pepper spraying the male employee at the counter, before turning the spray on Hayajneh. Hayajneh, who described receiving numerous calls from worried customers the following day, reflected how the community had rallied together, showcasing the strong bonds within it. "People have been calling me to check on me since they heard about the incident. I received maybe 50 calls this morning," she said, feeling the support pouring in.
London police have launched an investigation and released images of the suspect, described as approximately 6 feet tall, male, wearing black pants and shoes, and sporting what appeared to be safety glasses along with his black ensemble. They are appealing to the public for assistance, urging anyone who might have dash-cam footage or witnessed the event to come forward.
Naghmoush, who has worked hard to build relationships with both Muslim and non-Muslim customers at his establishment, does not believe the act was motivated by hate. He stated, "It doesn’t look like it the way I see it,unless it’s personal hate crime," hinting at his belief the attack was aimed at just one specific employee rather than the store itself.
Liability fears concerning the incident have been acknowledged, but both Naghmoush and Hayajneh are confident their store will bounce back. Hayajneh is preparing to return to work over the weekend, with Naghmoush stating his male employee had already resumed his duties the very next day after receiving treatment. Their resilience typifies the spirit of Mona's Fine Meats, which prides itself on being more than just another business, but rather, part of the community fabric.
The community remains vigilant, as incidents like these highlight the importance of support and safety for local businesses, especially those serving diverse populations like Mona's. London Police continue to encourage local residents to come forward with any information as they track down the perpetrator and bring him to justice, reiterative of the community's steadfast resolve against violence and upheaval.
While the shop has resumed operations post-incident, the psychological scars left on employees and the surrounding community will take time to heal. Their experience serves as a reminder of the importance of safety and awareness within communities, especially amid troubling occurrences. Moving forward, both the business owners and police are taking measures to bolster safety and security to prevent such attacks from happening again.
At the heart of London’s halal sector, Mona's Fine Meats stands as both a gathering spot for cultural exchange and now, dishearteningly, as the site of violence. Yet, through this adversity, they aim to reunite the community, reflecting their resilience and commitment to maintaining the sanctity of their establishment and the significance it holds for many. Such strength demonstrates the unyielding spirit of those who work tirelessly to support one another and preserve their shared values.
