Graffiti at synagogue investigated as hate crime
GUELPH – Police here are investigating hate-related graffiti affixed to a local synagogue late last week.
Just before noon on Oct. 7, an employee of Beth Isaiah Synagogue on Surrey Street West reported finding antisemitic stickers – including some bearing the image of Adolf Hitler – on the front doors of the synagogue building.
A review of surveillance video revealed a male arriving at the synagogue on foot at about 11:30pm on Oct. 5.
“The male placed the stickers on the doors and then appeared to use his cellphone to photograph himself with the stickers in the background,” states a Guelph Police Service press release.
Police say the man was wearing a dark jacket with a sweater hood pulled up over his head, black pants, black boots, black gloves, a dark-coloured backpack and a balaclava-style mask over his face. He was last seen walking northbound on Dublin Street South.
“The Guelph Police Service will not tolerate hate-motivated acts and will fully investigate every such reported incident,” police stated.
Anyone with information can contact Detective Constable Jagdeep Atwal, the Guelph Police Service’s hate crimes coordinator, at 519-824-1212 ext. 7436 or jatwal@guelphpolice.ca.
To leave an anonymous message for Crime Stoppers call 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or leave an anonymous tip at www.csgw.tips.