Hate crimes have increased since start of Israel-Hamas war: Toronto police chief
CTV
The number of hate crime calls to Toronto police has risen since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out earlier this month, the police chief has said.
The number of hate crime calls to Toronto police has risen since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out earlier this month, the police chief has said.
During Thursday's Toronto Police Services board meeting, Chief Myron Demkiw said the daily average of hate-related calls for service increased by 132 per cent since the Israel-Hamas war began.
"This reflects an escalation in hate-motivated incidents and also heightened public tensions," Demkiw said during his monthly verbal update.
The chief noted that some hate crimes police have verified include mischief, uttering death threats and criminal harassment.
Between Jan. 1 and Oct. 7, Toronto police received 237 hate crime reports, up from the 192 incidents reported in the same period last year.
During the first days of the war - from Oct. 7 to Oct. 9 - Toronto police saw an additional 14 hate crime reports. In comparison, police only saw five incidents over the same period last year and just one in 2021.
Demkiw shared that of the 14 reported hate crimes, 12 were related to antisemitism, and two were in connection with anti-Muslim and anti-Islam events.
