Toronto man charged with publicly inciting hatred at Brampton protest

November 7, 2024 Canuck

A Toronto man has been arrested and charged with publicly inciting hatred after a Brampton protest on Monday, Peel Regional Police say.

In a news release on Thursday, police said the protest was outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir on The Gore Road.

Police deployed its public order unit to disperse the crowds that had gathered as tensions rose, police added.

The man, 57, was arrested and charged on Wednesday and has since been released with conditions. He is due to appear at the Brampton courthouse at a later date.

Police said they investigated several offences that occurred during the protest and many were captured on video.

“In one video, an individual is captured using a loudspeaker to incite violence, calling for groups to storm Sikh temples,” police said in the release.

Police have issued arrest warrants for a 24-year-old Kitchener, Ont. man and a 22-year-old man of no fixed address. Both men are wanted for uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, conspiracy to commit assault with a weapon and conspiracy to commit mischief.

Police are urging the men to seek legal counsel and surrender to authorities.

“Peel Regional Police is committed to respecting an individual’s right to protest, as per the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” police said in the release.

“Any acts of violence, threats of violence or vandalism will not be tolerated. We appreciate the cooperation of those who remained peaceful during these events.”

A crowd of people stand outside a Hindu temple on a dark fall evening — A crowd gathers outside Hindu Sabha Mandir on Sunday evening. (Britnei Bilhete/CBC)

Monday’s protest came after a violent clash on Sunday outside the same temple.

Three men have been charged in that incident, which involved violence between groups of protesters.

Police said they have formed what they call a strategic investigative team to look into criminal acts during the Sunday and Monday protests.

Tensions in Brampton have increased since Canada expelled six Indian diplomats last month for allegations that they used their positions to collect information on Canadians in the Sikh separatist movement.

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