Peterborough police call the firebombing of the city’s only mosque a hate crime, while local residents managed to quickly raise enough money to repair the house of worship.

Meanwhile in Kitchener, police are investigating vandalism at a Hindu temple.

Ram Dham Hindu Temple president Dilip Dav says several windows at the rear entrance of the temple were shattered late Sunday night.

He says no one inside the temple was injured and they were unable to see who did the damage.

The incident follows the arson attack on the Masjid Al-Salaam mosque in Peterborough on Saturday night.

Investigators say they haven’t drawn any link between the attacks and Friday’s attacks in Paris that killed at least 129 people.

Peterborough’s mayor called the Masjid Al-Salaam arson attack a “cowardly act” and says his church and several others are offering prayer space for displaced local Muslims until the building is restored.

Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett noted the overwhelming success of a crowd-funding campaign to pay for repairs to the Peterborough mosque.

The online campaign has raised more than $88,000 in pledges for repairs to the Peterborough mosque.

“I think it speaks volumes of how the people in the community feel towards this cowardly act,” Bennett said in an interview.

Peterborough Police Insp. Larry Charmley, of the criminal investigations unit, said that investigators are getting plenty of cooperation from area residents and other police forces.

“At this time, we are treating it as a hate crime,” Charmley told a press conference on Monday.

He said there’s nothing to suggest the Saturday night arson is connected to events in Paris a day earlier, when Islamic State gunmen carried out attacks that killed 129 people.

Area Muslim leaders praised the community and police, despite the attack on their place of worship.

“The incident has shocked all of us because, as the mayor said, it’s out of character for Peterborough,” Kenzu Abdella, president of the Kawartha Muslim Religious Association, told a press conference on Monday afternoon.

Damage to the mosque has been estimated at $80,000, with more than that raised by early afternoon Monday on the crowd-funding website FundRazr. As of 1:40 p.m., the site said it had received pledges of $88,785 from 1,719 supporters, several of whom were anonymous.

“We encourage members of the community, of all or no faiths, to help the Muslim community restore their place of worship,” the FundRazr website states.

There was no mention of what would be done with surplus money above the original $80,000 goal.

Bennett said the Mark Street United Church where he worships decided on Sunday to offer space for the Masjid Al-Salaam congregation until the repairs are completed.

A number of other churches have come forward as well to offer space to worship, Bennett said.

“Peterborough is a very safe community and we embrace all religious faiths,” Bennett said.

He said he didn’t know if there was a connection between the arson and the Paris attacks on Friday.

“Who knows what’s in the minds of the individual or individuals at 11 p.m. on Saturday night?” Bennett said.

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On the FundRazr website, one anonymous donor wrote: “Good luck with the restoration of your mosque.”

Another anonymous donation was from Ohio and left no message at all.

Police and firefighters arrived at the mosque on Saturday at around 11 p.m. after receiving a call of smoke coming out of the building.

Peterborough police have confirmed that the fire was deliberately set.

“Offences such as this, committed in relation to a place of Worship are taken very seriously and the Police Service will make every attempt to determine who is responsible,” Peterborough police said in a prepared statement.

No one was injured, but the interior of the building was heavily damaged.

The Kawartha Muslim Religious Association praised the community for its support in the wake of the attack.

“In light of the recent events at Masjid Al-Salaam, we would like to thank the community at large for the tremendous and continued support we have received,” the association said in a statement posted on Facebook.

The mayor noted that many members of the community had stepped up to help worshippers at the mosque.

Bennett tweeted: “Several church groups have stepped forward, contacted Kawartha Muslim Religious Association to provide space for worship. Forward together.”

“If this is found to be a hate crime, it in no way represents the feelings of our community,” Bennett said in an earlier prepared statement.

“Attacking a place of worship is a despicable act. Masjid Al-Salaam, the name of the mosque, means Mosque of Peace.

“The faith communities are cornerstones of our city, contributing to charitable organizations and helping those who are less fortunate.”

“We encourage members of the community, of all or no faiths, to help the Muslim community restore their place of worship,” stated in a Facebook post by the Peterborough Mosque Community Support group.

Maryam Monsef, the newly elected MP for Peterborough, released a statement condemning the actions of those responsible.

“I wish to take a moment to remind us all that Peterborough-Kawartha is a warm and generous community. We have a proud history as a welcoming and friendly place to live, just as it was when my family arrived here 20 years ago,” said Monsef.

“My thoughts are with the families that visit the mosque for prayer every week.”

Peterborough police Chief Murray Rodd echoed the statement. “We condemn attacks on innocents and their place of worship,” said Rodd.