A man has been charged after allegedly making xenophobic remarks and assaulting a victim in a store in North York.
According to police, the incident occurred on Monday afternoon at a store near Yonge Street and Finch Avenue. The suspect, identified as 43-year-old John Smith, reportedly made derogatory comments towards the victim, who is of Asian descent, before physically assaulting them.
The victim sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics.
Smith has been charged with assault and uttering threats. He is scheduled to appear in court on a later date.
The incident has sparked outrage and condemnation from community leaders and organizations, who are calling for an end to hate crimes and discrimination.
In a statement, Mayor John Tory expressed his disappointment and urged residents to stand together against hate and bigotry.
“This type of behavior has no place in our city,” Tory said. “We must continue to stand united against hate and discrimination in all its forms.”
The incident is currently being investigated by the Toronto Police Service’s Hate Crime Unit. Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
This is a developing story and we will provide updates as they become available.
