Police charge man in connection with December pro-Palestinian demonstration inside Toronto mall
A man has been charged and arrested in connection with a pro-Palestinian demonstration inside a mall in downtown Toronto last month, according to police.
On Dec. 17, an estimated 150 people participated in a demonstration in front of the Toronto Eaton Centre Zara location. A week earlier, Zara, a multinational clothing retailer, pulled an advertising campaign that some said bore a resemblance to imagery of the Israel-Hamas war.
Investigators with Toronto police allege that during the demonstration, where two men blocked the entrance of the store, preventing the employees from closing.
“Both men began pushing security and were trying to gain entry into the store,” a release issued by police Sunday reads.
Police allege that one of the men pushed an officer who tried to remove him from the business and that the other struck an officer with an umbrella.
Video from the day that later circulated online shows a crowd chanting in front of the store. In it, one of the protestors can be heard saying "I'll lay you out on the floor' and threatening to put someone "six feet deep."
On Saturday, officers with Toronto police’s Hate Crime Unit executed a search warrant in relation to the incident. Police say “items of evidentiary value” were seized during the raid. The release did not specify the items.
On Feb. 9, 2024, Toronto police arrested Ahmed Saeed Abufarick, 31, of Toronto in relation to the incident.
Abufarick has been charged with unlawful assembly, mischief interfere with property and assault to a peace officer with weapon.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 13, 2024.
Correction
An earlier version of this story stated that two men were arrested and charged in connection to this incident. Their charges have since been dropped.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.