Toronto police add two more arrests to antisemitic protest investigation
Toronto police announced two additional arrests, bringing the total number of suspects charged in the antisemitic protest probe to eight.
On Saturday, the Toronto Police Service confirmed that two more suspects have been charged with willful promotion and public incitement of hatred stemming from an antisemitic march on March 15, increasing the total to eight individuals. The alleged offenders allegedly retrieved hateful signs from a storage locker and displayed them while confronting pro-Israel demonstrators, shouting slurs. Jewish organizations, including the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and B’nai Brith Canada, praised the arrests and called for stronger action against hate.
They also urged political leaders to avoid language that could embolden extremist views. The newly arrested persons, Shahram Nayeb-Yazdi, 63, and Daniela Bonamico, 40, are scheduled to appear at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre. Police noted that hate-motivated offenses can carry aggravating factors at sentencing and that certain hate-propaganda charges require the Attorney General’s consent.
Why it matters
The arrests highlight ongoing efforts to curb hate-motivated violence and signal legal consequences for extremist speech in Canada.
In this story