A 50-year-old man has been charged after allegedly hurling antisemitic threats at patrons of a community centre in North York earlier this month. Thomas Andrew Hardcastle was arrested on Friday and charged with criminal harassment and uttering threats.
Police allege that on Monday, the accused sent communications containing antisemitic content to a community centre located in the area of Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue West. According to authorities, Hardcastle subsequently attended the community centre and directed antisemitic threats toward the alleged victims.
This incident marks the latest hate-motivated case investigated by Toronto Police targeting the city's Jewish population. When suspected hate-motivated offences are reported, the investigation is led by the Hate Crime Unit. If it is alleged that a criminal offence was committed and believed to have been motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate, police may consult with Crown prosecutors. If a person is charged and convicted, the judge will consider hate as an aggravating factor during sentencing.
In a statement, police noted: "Wilful promotion of hatred and advocating genocide are hate propaganda (hate speech) offences which require the Attorney General’s consent to lay charges. These charges are often laid at a later time."
The charges follow numerous other incidents targeting Jewish members of the public in the city, including the arrest of six individuals protesting the Walk with Israel event last weekend. On June 1, police said five additional individuals were charged after an earlier arrest for wilful promotion of hatred and public incitement of hatred at an anti-Israel demonstration in March.
Anyone with information about the latest case is asked to contact police at 416-808-3505 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
