The Edmonton Police Service’s unit dedicated to hate crimes is currently conducting an investigation into two occurrences, both of which transpired in Edmonton over the past week.
The first incident took place by Queen Elizabeth High School on Monday morning. A man reportedly shouted anti-Palestinian comments from his vehicle towards students outside of the school. An official representative from Edmonton Public Schools conveyed that a teacher who witnessed this abusive behavior ushered the students indoors before notifying the local law enforcement. Thankfully, the incident resulted in no physical harm to anyone involved. However, the police are presently looking into the registered owner of the vehicle in question.
In a separate occurrence linked to potential hate crimes, a man has been taken into custody following an aggressive confrontation that took place outside a grocery store last weekend. Law enforcement was called to the scene at 110 Street and 153 Avenue around 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, in response to a disturbance.
Upon their arrival, police officers found a male suspect behaving in an aggressive manner, using racial slurs and voicing threats targeted at the Muslim community. Although the suspect initially resisted arrest, he was subsequently apprehended without further incident.
The 50-year-old suspect has been charged with mischief, uttering threats, and resisting arrest. The Hate Crimes Unit of Edmonton Police Service is also advocating for the implementation of Section 718.2 from the Criminal Code of Canada. This provision allows for consideration of increased sentencing where it can be established that the offense was driven by hatred. While the charges have yet to be officially sworn, the suspect cannot be named.
Edmonton Police Service issued a statement outlining its firm stance on hate-driven crimes and incidents. These occurrences are not simply harmful to the direct victims involved, but the ripple effects of trauma can significantly impact entire communities.
The police force encourages reporting of hate incidents, such as racial slurs or offensive gestures, which can be done online. Instances of harsher hate crimes, for instance physical violence, hateful literature or mail sent out, threat-laden phone calls, or destruction of religious symbols or properties, should be immediately reported to their emergency hotline or their alternative contact number.
