Toronto police seek public help identifying assailant who attacked a visibly Jewish man, as antisemitic hate crimes hit record highs.
Toronto’s Jewish community is reeling once again after a hate-motivated assault targeting a visibly Jewish man in North York, the latest in a wave of antisemitic violence gripping Canada’s largest city.
According to police, the attack occurred on September 27 around 7:30 p.m. near Bathurst Street and Baycrest Avenue, when a male passenger in a moving vehicle hurled racial slurs and physically assaulted a Jewish pedestrian walking along the sidewalk.
Authorities confirmed Tuesday that the incident is being investigated as a suspected hate crime, part of an alarming surge in antisemitic incidents since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel.
The suspect is described as a male, aged 20–24, approximately 6’4” tall, with a slender build and thin mustache. He was last seen wearing a white shirt layered with a grey sweater, black pants, and a black beanie.
Police have released the suspect’s image and are urging the public to come forward with any information that could assist the investigation.
“This attack was targeted, deliberate, and motivated by hate,” said a Toronto Police spokesperson. “We are appealing to witnesses to help bring the perpetrator to justice.”
Antisemitism Surges Across Toronto
The assault comes amid a disturbing rise in antisemitic crimes across Toronto. Police data released in May 2024 revealed a historic high in hate incidents, with Jewish residents once again the most targeted group.
Just last week, a suspect smashed windows at Kehillat Shaarei Torah (KST) — marking the tenth attack on the same synagogue in 18 months.
A day later, anti-Israel rioters violently disrupted an event featuring IDF veterans, organized by Students Supporting Israel at Toronto Metropolitan University. Police arrested five suspects following the melee, which left attendees shaken but undeterred.
Community leaders say the violence reflects a toxic climate of hate and misinformation that has spilled over from international conflicts into Canadian streets and campuses.
“This isn’t free speech — it’s intimidation,” said one Jewish community advocate. “From synagogues to universities, Jews are being attacked simply for existing.”
As police ramp up patrols around Jewish institutions, many Torontonians are calling for stronger legal consequences for hate crimes and clearer political condemnation of antisemitism masquerading as anti-Israel activism.
For now, Toronto’s Jewish community remains resilient but wary, as hatred once again threatens the city’s sense of safety and decency.
