Police in St. Catharines are actively searching for two individuals after a Ukrainian Catholic church became the target of what authorities are calling a "hate-motivated" vandalism attack. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local Ukrainian community and prompted condemnation from religious leaders.
The vandalism occurred at St. George's Ukrainian Catholic Church on Page Street, where surveillance cameras captured two suspects defacing the religious property with spray paint. The Niagara Regional Police Service confirmed they were called to the scene around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning after the damage was discovered.
Surveillance Footage Reveals Suspects
Investigators have released detailed descriptions of the two individuals caught on camera. The first suspect is described as wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with white lettering, black pants, and distinctive white shoes with black soles. The second individual was captured wearing grey pants, a black hooded sweatshirt, and black shoes.
"This appears to be a targeted attack on a place of worship," said police spokesperson Constable Philip Gavin. "We're treating this with the utmost seriousness and are following all available leads."
Community Reaction and Support
The vandalism has drawn strong reactions from both the local Ukrainian community and interfaith leaders. Father Ivan Tyborovskyy of St. George's expressed his disappointment but emphasized the congregation's resilience.
"While we're saddened by this act of disrespect, it only strengthens our resolve to continue our worship and community work," Father Tyborovskyy stated. "We've received overwhelming support from neighbors of all faiths."
Local residents have been stopping by the church to offer assistance with cleanup efforts, and community organizations have reached out to express solidarity with the congregation.
Ongoing Investigation
Police are urging anyone with information about the incident or the identities of the suspects to come forward. The Hate Crime Unit has been consulted as part of the investigation, reflecting the serious nature of the offense.
Authorities are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who might have witnessed suspicious activity in the Page Street area between Monday evening and Tuesday morning. The investigation remains active, with officers reviewing additional surveillance footage from nearby properties.
