In a statement on Facebook, Valerie Plante wrote that citizens, politicians, journalists, and public figures should be vigilant about rumours and urged Montrealers not to react without careful consideration, especially when communities are the target.

“False words hurt communities; in this case, the Muslim community, and that undermines our city,” Plante said. “Montreal is an inclusive city and we must work hand in hand to eradicate all forms of discrimination.”

Earlier this week TVA erroneously reported that the Ahl-Ill-Bait mosque in Cote-des-Neiges had asked for women to be removed from a construction site near their place of worship.

As soon as the report was issued, the leaders of the mosque reacted publically, and said that nobody had ever made such a request.

Quebec's construction commission examined the contracts and talked to the mosque, as well as the construction workers at the site, and found no evidence for anything that TVA had claimed.

TVA stood by its story for several days, then issued  a retraction and an apology on Friday.

The original item was only removed from its website on Friday afternoon, and TVA said it will hold an internal inquiry.

Since the story aired, the mosque said it's been flooded with hateful comments and threats.

The story also prompted a white nationalist group to schedule a protest outside the mosque on Friday afternoon, with many who attended saying they refused to believe that TVA had created a story out of nothing.

They were outnumbered by counter-protesters who also showed up outside the mosque.