Six people were arrested and charged during Sunday’s Walk With Israel event in North York, including two men accused of hate offences.
Toronto Police said they were in the Bathurst St. and Sheppard Ave. area on Sunday for the mostly peaceful event hosted by the United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto, which attracted about 50,000 participants who were there to celebrate Israeli culture and march in support of Jewish people.
Police said incidents included:
— Lou-i Bou-Chahine, 32, of Toronto, is charged with public incitement of hatred after a man allegedly displayed an anti-Semitic message calling for violence during the event.
— Another man was in possession of an Israeli flag when he allegedly threw it on the ground and stomped on it. The incident allegedly led to a breach of the peace and the man allegedly tried to resist arrest.
Syed Raza, 27, of Toronto, is charged with public incitement of hatred and resisting a peace officer.
— Eric Brazau, 59, of Toronto, is charged with causing a disturbance after a man was cautioned several times after allegedly approaching counter-protesters, yelling at them and pushing a camera mounted on a stick in their faces.
— Shahrez Bin Salman Salman Hydri, 37, of Beeton, is charged with failing to leave premises when directed, obstructing a peace officer and assaulting a peace officer after a man was allegedly on private property and asked to leave “several” times.
He allegedly refused to leave and then assaulted an officer.
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— Michael Bursztejn, 75, of Toronto, is charged with assault after a woman wearing a keffiyeh and holding her child was walking on Sheppard when a man allegedly bumped into her intentionally, causing her to stumble.
— Omar Elkhawass 22, of Burlington, is charged with mischief interfere with property after a man allegedly tried to take an Israeli flag from an event participant.
Anyone with information is asked to contact 416-808-3500 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or 222tips.com.