The Toronto Star reports the paper got an exclusive statment from the family of an 11-year-old girl whose claims a man cut off her hijab were proven false.
Police began investigating last Friday, after the girl said she was attacked twice on the way to school by a man who cut her hijab with scissors.
The alleged attack received widespread media attention, and several prominent figures denounced it while expressing solidarity with the girl and the Muslim community.
On Monday, Toronto police said their investigation revealed that the incident did not happen.
The statement The Star printed reads, "When our young daughter told the school that she was attacked by a stranger, the school reacted with compassion and support — as did the police. When we arrived at the school on Friday, we were informed what happened and assumed it to be true, just like everyone else. We only went public because we were horrified that there was such a perpetrator who may try to harm someone else."
The paper reports the family has expressed "their sincere apologies to every Canadian." and "they were deeply sorry for the pain and anger caused in the past several days."
The family says they look forward to "closing this difficult chapter and providing support to our children."
With files from The Canadian Press