Toronto police launch hate crime investigation after Jewish teenagers attacked

TORONTO — Toronto police have launched a robbery and hate crime investigation after a group of 17-year-old Jewish boys wearing religious garments were attacked in north Toronto Sunday evening.

Police say the four boys were walking in the area of Fairholme Ave. and Bathurst St., one block south of Lawrence Ave. W., when they were passed by another group of nine teenagers.

The second group made derogatory comments about the Jewish boys’ religion and their clothing then assaulted two of the 17-year-old boys, “punching and kicking them,” police said.

A pair of sunglasses was stolen from one of the victims.

The 17-year-old boys did not know the other group, police said.

After the alleged attack took place, the suspects split up and fled the area, police said.

Police responded to the incident at approximately 8 p.m. and arrested one suspect, a 17year-old boy, at the scene.

He cannot be identified under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

No description has been made about the other suspects other than they are in their “early teens.”

Noah Shack, Greater Toronto Area vice president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said they were “deeply disturbed” to learn of the incident.

“Jewish Canadians should never fear wearing their Kippah in public,” Shack said in a statement. “We are grateful to the Toronto Police Service for its rapid and professional response.”

Toronto police spokesperson Katrina Arrogante said police could not say whether the assault had an anti-Semitic motivation, or if the derogatory comments were a case of “kids being kids.”

The victims of the assault were treated at the scene for minor injuries.