Anti-Israel protester charged for alleged public incitement of hatred

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This will be remembered as the Passover raid that saw the seizure of anti-Israel protest signs and the arrest of a man known to police.

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Toronto Police promised to crack down on protesters crossing the line in a in North York neighbourhood and on Passover they delivered on that promise.

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“I would like to provide an update on a matter of significant public interest that is being investigated by our Hate Crime Unit,” Chief Myron Demkiw said in a prepared video from TPS headquarters that was posted to X on Thursday afternoon.

“On March 15, in the Bathurst and Sheppard area, antisemitic signage was displayed by a number of individuals, some of whom also shouted derogatory slurs,” he alleged.

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The Chief added: “Today, one of these individuals was arrested and charged with public incitement of hatred.”

But police were not done there.

“A number of search warrants were carried out across Toronto, including at residences and a self storage unit. The signs that were allegedly on display March 15 were seized, along with other evidence.

Police “also seized a number of phones and laptops from suspects and persons of interest” and are “reviewing the evidence and allocating all the necessary resources to this work. This is an active and ongoing criminal investigation.”

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Police say “It is alleged that the accused attended the demonstration with other protestors and displayed an antisemitic sign” and “he marched with the sign toward the group of pro-Israeli supporters while shouting derogatory slurs.”

While no one was charged at the time, police say “the accused was later identified through investigation.”

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Muhammad Anas Sial, 33, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with public Incitement of Hatred.

The accused appeared in court on Thursday and was granted bail. He’s expected to return to court for his next appearance in May.

He is, however, known to police and the public at these protests. He was also one of the men in the original pictures of the cop coffee delivery in 2023 at the Avenue Rd. overpass.

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In 2024 he was charged for a previous incident at the same Bathurst and Sheppard location – a charge that lawyer and journalist Caryma Sa’d says was withdrawn from the courts.

As was the case with that charge, the accused is considered to be innocent until proven guilty. The new charge has not been tested in court.

Demkiw calls this an “active” investigation.

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Police, says a news release, “determined that the conduct observed on March 15, along with other factors, represented an escalation in behaviour that became a clear risk to public safety” and “as a result, the Toronto Police Service has implemented an operational ban to prevent demonstrators from entering residential streets in the Bathurst St. and Sheppard Ave. W. area.

Demkiw also told the public “this holiday weekend and beyond, there will be an increased and visible police presence, including rotating command posts at synagogues throughout the city.”

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You can’t miss seeing those C8 Carbine riffles outside of synagogues and TTC stations.

The chief reminds “Toronto is a place from diverse backgrounds to live together in harmony, and we will continue to do everything we can, so our communities are and feel safe.”

And they will make arrests if necessary.

jwarmington@postmedia.com

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