North York arsons likely hate-motivated, suspects sought: Cops

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Published May 03, 2024  •  1 minute read

Suspects are sought after two arson incidents in North York that police believe are related and motivated by hate.
Suspects are sought after two arson incidents in North York that police believe are related and motivated by hate. Photo by SCREEN GRAB /TORONTO POLICE

Suspects are sought after two arson incidents in North York that police believe are related and motivated by hate.

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In a news release issued Friday, Toronto Police said there was an arson report the previous Friday at about 8:40 a.m. in the Bayvierw Ave.-Ruddington Dr. area.

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Police said a person approached a sign that was affixed to the ground and allegedly lit the sign on fire and fled the area.

Two days later, on Sunday at about 4:15 a.m., another arson was reported, this time in the Bayview Ave.-Burleigh Heights Dr. area.

Cops said the driver of a silver or grey-coloured vehicle approached a sign that was affixed to the ground and a person lit the sign on fire and fled southbound in the vehicle.

The incidents are being investigated as suspected hate-motivated arsons based on the messaging on the signs, one of which was placed on the property of a synagogue.

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Police have released video footage of one incident.

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We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

In January, Toronto Police said reports of hate crimes quadrupled in 2023, with an average of 190 hate-crime related calls each month.

From January to September in 2022, police say that number averaged just 47 per month.

Hate-crime occurrences increased by 42%, with 353 incidents in 2023 compared to 248 the previous year, Toronto Police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3500, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at 222tips.com.

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