A Toronto man has been charged with public incitement of hatred after he allegedly brought an antisemitic sign to a demonstration in North York.
Officers attended the intersection of Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue West on Sunday, March 15, at around 1:15 p.m.
Investigators say the accused was one of several attendees who displayed an antisemitic sign at a demonstration in the area.
The suspect then allegedly “marched with the sign toward the group of pro-Israeli supporters while shouting derogatory slurs,” police said in a release.
On April 2, members of the Hate Crime Unit executed a search warrant, where they arrested 33-year-old Muhammad Anas Sial.
Chief @TPSMyronDemkiw announces arrest for Public Incitement of Hatred at a recent demonstration at Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue West.News release: https://t.co/qEG8NtDrIZ pic.twitter.com/kgI8y8VyRM
Police say additional search warrants were executed at a number of residences, and at a storage unit, in Toronto.
“The signs that were displayed on March 15 were seized along with other evidence,” the release adds. “Police also seized a number of phones and laptops from suspects and persons of interest.”
Police say the investigation is ongoing.
“The Toronto Police Service determined that the conduct observed on March 15, along with other factors, represented an escalation in behaviour that became a clear risk to public safety.”
“As a result, the Toronto Police Service has implemented an operational ban to prevent demonstrators from entering residential streets in the Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue West area.”