A Canadian man has been arrested after a shocking antisemitic graffiti spree in Halifax, as data confirms Jews remain the number one target of hate crimes in Canada.
Canadian authorities have arrested 31-year-old Gezim Topalli in connection with a shocking wave of antisemitic vandalism that desecrated Jewish institutions in Halifax. The hate-fueled graffiti included swastikas and the vile conspiracy slogan “Jews did 9/11,” scrawled across synagogues and community centers.
Police said at least six locations were targeted last Sunday, including the historic Beth Israel synagogue, Shaar Shalom synagogue, and a Chabad-Lubavitch facility. Within 48 hours, Halifax police released a suspect photo, which led to Topalli’s swift arrest at his home Tuesday.
Topalli faces multiple charges, including:
- 3 counts of mischief targeting religious property
- 3 counts of property damage
- 1 count of public incitement of hatred
Halifax Police Chief Don MacLean praised the public’s cooperation:
“The swift and seamless collaboration between police and the community represents our city taking a strong and unified stance against the promotion of hatred.”
The arrest comes amid a surge in antisemitism across Canada. According to Statistics Canada, Jews remain the most targeted religious group, suffering 920 police-reported hate crimes in 2024. That makes Jews 25 times more likely to be victims of hate crimes than other Canadians. While slightly down from 2023’s record 959 incidents, the numbers remain alarmingly above 2022’s 527.
The disturbing trend began after Hamas’s barbaric October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel, which unleashed a tidal wave of global antisemitism. Canadian Jewish leaders say the Halifax incident proves that antisemitic conspiracies and hatred don’t stay online—they translate into real-world threats against Jewish life and safety.
