Reported hate crimes, antisemitism in Toronto have surged since Oct. 7
The head of Toronto police says the number of hate crimes reported in the city since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7 has nearly doubled when compared to the same time period from the year prior.
Chief Myron Demkiw provided the updated statistics to the Toronto Police Services Board on Monday and said officers attended 989 calls for reported hate crimes in that time, marking a 93 per cent increase from the same time period in 2023.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Police made 69 arrests and laid 173 charges in connection with those incidents, 203 of which were confirmed to be hate crimes, according to the force.
“It's been 163 days since the Middle East crisis began and the impact on our city is significant,” Demkiw said at a news conference Monday afternoon.
Demkiw noted that although there was a drop in the number of reported hate crimes in December and January, police saw a “significant increase” in February.
He said of the 84 hate crimes in 2024 so far, at least 56 per cent were antisemitic and last month saw the highest number of antisemitic occurrences in city in the last three years.
The group targeted in the second-highest number of reported hate crimes in the city this year is 2SLGBTQ+ communities, followed by Black groups and Muslim, Arab, or Palestinian groups.
Demkiw noted that while under reporting of all types of hate crimes is a concern to police, those related to Islamophobia are especially worrisome.
“I know from talking to people in the community, that Islamophobia is a significant concern. And given our statistics I am concerned about significant under reporting,” he said.
Demkiw said officers have increased patrols in Jewish and Muslim communities across the city and command posts in those areas remain in effect.
Police have responded to 500 protests since Oct. 7
Since Oct. 7, Demkiw said police have responded to at least 500 protests, calling the situation “unprecedented.”
He said there have been instances of multiple protests on a single day in different parts of the city and noted a “change in behavior and tactics” at some of those demonstrations.
Those tactics include the use of vehicles in protests, which Demkiw admits the force hasn’t encountered before, and a documented increase in the “aggression” directed at officers on the ground.
“We've had pop-up events and very rapidly developing events happen recently that required us to [adjust] our response to make sure that our response can also be rapid and effective in the changing dynamics.”
At least 24 protest-related arrests have been made and 30 charges have been laid since Oct. 7, Demkiw said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.