Ottawa hate crime attacks investigated
Police in the Canadian capital Ottawa are investigating a series of hate crimes in which three Jewish centres, a mosque and a church were daubed with swastikas and racist graffiti.
Police believe the attacks are linked. They hope to identify the perpetrators from video footage.
A solidarity event took place at an Ottawa synagogue on Saturday.
Statistics show attacks against Canadian Muslims more than doubled between 2012 and 2014.
No group has so far said it was behind the attacks.
As well as the mosque and the Jewish centres, the church targeted has a majority black congregation.
‘Not representative’
The solidarity event at the Machzikei Hadas Synagogue, one of the sites defaced, was expected to be attended by an imam and city officials.
“Whether a crime by a single person or not, we are all disturbed by these incidents,” local councillor Jeff Leiper said in a statement ahead of the gathering.
“They are not representative of the hearts of Ottawa residents, our values, our tolerance, our generosity.”
Mr Leiper said a march would be held on Sunday “to give expression to our desire that Ottawa residents work every day to fight hate”.
Meanwhile, MP Anita Vandenbeld wrote in a Facebook post: ” I will never be silent in the face of hatred and intolerance, nor will our government.
“Diversity is our greatest strength, it enriches our lives, it strengthens our society, and it unites us as a country. It is our most cherished value.”
Since Donald Trump was elected US president on 8 November, a number of hate crimes have been reported across the United States.
But incidents have also been reported at the same time in Canada, including a racist rant caught on camera, white supremacist posters and anti-Semitic graffiti.
IMAGE: Swastika signs on the front doors of Ottawa’s Machzikei Hadas Synagogue Image copyright ANDREW FOOTE/CBC Swastikas signs were sprayed on the front doors of Ottawa’s Machzikei Hadas Synagogue
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