Three people are facing charges in connection with six incidents involving blacks and South Asians in Edmonton. Cases include assault, assault with a weapon, possession of firearms and threats.
The incidents took place between Feb. 28 and April 17. A 46-year-old man was charged in connection with the three of them.
According to police, he followed a black man before insulting and assaulting him on April 14.
Three days later, he allegedly pushed and beat another black man, until bystanders intervened. A few hours later, he allegedly approached the third black man, and hit him with a piece of pipe on the head.
Police believe he did not know the victims. He faced six counts, including assault with a weapon.
Another 34-year-old man was charged with two counts of assault. He allegedly spat at a South Asian man wearing a turban while throwing racial slurs at the Southgate LRT station and threatened to slap him.
A 17-year-old allegedly shouted insults and spat at black and South Asian employees at a restaurant in north Edmonton.
The case has also been filed against the fourth man, who has since died. He allegedly approached a black woman and a white man who were taking a walk with their baby. He allegedly fired racist insults and later pointed fake guns in their direction.
The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) Hate Crimes Unit considers all of these acts to be motivated by bias or hostility.
He recommended that the judge apply section 718.2 (a) (1) of the Criminal Code and consider it as an aggravating circumstance.
The sergeant of the hate crimes unitEPSGary Willits, says some of the individuals arrested were very directly about their racial prejudices.
Others said they did not remember the events. According to the sergeant, addiction and mental health issues seem to play a role in some cases.
We have communities here that live in fear.
The number of hate crimes reported to Edmonton police has jumped this year.
There were 23 in the first three months of 2022, compared to only 13 in the first three months of 2021.
Envelopes containing white powder were recently sent to mosques. The powder turned out to be harmless, but Sergeant Willits said his unit is actively investigating the case.
We have communities here that live in fear. These people do not go to their places of worship, do not wear religious symbols and do not leave their homes.he said.
L ‘EPS says it supports victims of six engagement incidents through its specialized trauma management services.
Source: Radio-Canada
