Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw revealed a concerning trend to the Toronto Police Services Board on Monday, highlighting a significant increase in reported hate crimes since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7.
According to Demkiw, the number of reported hate crimes in the city has nearly doubled compared to the same period in the previous year, with officers responding to 989 calls related to hate crimes during this timeframe, marking a staggering 93 percent surge.
Among these incidents, police made 69 arrests and laid 173 charges, with 203 of the reported incidents confirmed as hate crimes.
While there was a temporary decline in reported hate crimes in December and January, Demkiw noted a concerning uptick in February, with a 67 percent increase in reported incidents.
Highlighting the disturbing nature of these crimes, Demkiw revealed that 56 percent of the reported hate crimes in 2024 have been antisemitic, with last month witnessing the highest number of antisemitic occurrences in the past three years.
Apart from antisemitic incidents, the 2SLGBTQ+ communities were the second most targeted group, followed by Black communities and Muslim, Arab, or Palestinian groups.
Expressing concern over potential underreporting, Demkiw particularly highlighted the issue of Islamophobia-related hate crimes, emphasizing the need for greater awareness and reporting in this regard.
Demkiw emphasized the ongoing impact of geopolitical conflicts abroad on communities in Canada and Toronto, underscoring the police force’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the city amidst these challenging circumstances.