Joanna Lavoie, CP24.com Posted Friday, 27 May 2022 16:21 EDT Last Updated on Friday, 27 May 2022 18:01 EDT
A 21-year-old Toronto man faces a series of charges following an alleged hate-motivated incident at a Jewish school in North York.
The incident, which Toronto police say appears to be isolated, happened Wednesday in Toronto’s Yeshiva Gedolah, near Lawrence Avenue West and Bathurst Street.
According to Toronto police, a man was riding his bicycle on school property when he confronted students about being on the property.
This guy came back a while later and started yelling at the students. Police said they also made anti-Semitic comments.
School personnel then confronted the man and a physical confrontation erupted during which a staff member was threatened and assaulted, according to police.
Kyle McLeod, 21, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with various crimes, including assault. He is due to appear in court on July 28.
The Toronto Police Hate Crimes Unit is involved and is investigating this incident as an alleged hate-motivated incident.
UBER has confirmed that the defendant is one of its dealers.
“We have zero tolerance for violence or hatred on the Uber platform. We are investigating the matter and will take appropriate action,” a spokesman told CP24.
According to the business community guidelines, all users are expected to be treated with respect. Violence and discrimination of any kind are not tolerated.
UBER says it has a team of former law enforcement professionals working with police to respond to urgent needs and explain how they can help with investigations.
The Jewish human rights group Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) for Holocaust Studies is denouncing this latest incident of anti-Semitism.
“It is extremely worrying that a man with a gun violently threatened people in a yeshiva and, even more disturbingly, shouted that he wanted to kill Jews … and the perpetrator has to face the consequences for his disturbing actions.” , Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, FSWC. Director of Policy, in a statement on May 26.
Speaking to CP24, Kirzner-Roberts said the incident is “very disturbing to the community”, especially because it is aimed at children.
“We are very grateful that the Toronto police have taken control of this situation very quickly, that they have accused the aggressor,” he said, adding that political and community leaders together with the police must work together to develop a strategy to combat all hate crimes.
“Now we can only hope he is responsible for the fear he has left in the heart of our community.”
The incident comes when Toronto reports a 22% year-over-year increase in hate crimes, most of which target the city’s small Jewish community.
“This attack comes after the latest annual hate crime report from the Toronto Police Service which once again shows the city’s Jewish community as the most targeted group. Jewish students deserve to go to school without fear threats and violence, “Kirzner-Roberts. dit.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1300, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or www.222tips.com.