Halifax police looking for suspect after antisemitic graffiti found on synagogues

Halifax police are patrolling synagogues and other religious buildings after hateful graffiti was found over the weekend.

Halifax Regional Police (HRP) says it is looking for a suspect after three synagogues in the city were vandalized with antisemitic graffiti over the weekend.

Police say officers responded to six incidents of “racist graffiti” throughout central Halifax Sunday morning.

In one case, a swastika symbol was spray painted over a sign at the entrance to the Shaar Shalom Synagogue, while graffiti referencing Jews and 9/11 was found on the exterior of the Beth Israel Synagogue.

Joanna Mirsky Wexler, president of the Shaar Shalom Congregation, told CTV News that Chabad of the Maritimes, a private residence where Orthodox Jewish people live, was also tagged with antisemitic graffiti.

Police say graffiti was also written on sidewalks near the synagogues.

“Parents coming in to drop their children off first noticed it and brought it to our attention,” said Mirsky Wexler. “I would say the younger children had not been exposed to those hateful symbols before.”

HRP has called in a hate crime investigator, who is reviewing video and other evidence. Police Chief Don MacLean says the person, or persons, responsible for the graffiti will face charges once they are identified.

Police have released a photo of a person considered a suspect as they work to identify them.

“I want to be clear that hatred will not be tolerated in Halifax Regional Municipality. Our constitutional right to free speech does not mean we live in a society where we can spread hate,” said MacLean in a statement on Monday.

“We are a growing city and becoming more diverse every day. For those who feel so strongly that diversity is a problem – let me be clear – it’s not. Our community would be a much stronger place if we celebrated our differences together instead of allowing it to divide us.

“Directing hate to an entire section of our community is against the law, but most importantly, it does not represent the views of our city. The loudest voices are not always rooted in wisdom, fact or truth.”

Police say the incidents are being investigated as hate crimes and officers are conducting extra patrols of synagogues and other religious buildings.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the incidents or the suspect to contact Halifax Regional Police at 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Halifax mayor ‘appalled’ by graffiti

Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore has also released a statement, saying he is “appalled” by the antisemitic graffiti.

“Attacking places of worship is unacceptable. It has no place in Halifax,” said Fillmore in the statement on Facebook.

“We are living in a time when conversations about identity, history, and justice can feel overwhelming and divisive. But we cannot allow that complexity to collapse into hate here at home.

“There is no path to peace anywhere that includes bringing fear and division to Halifax. We are better than this.”

‘Absolutely unacceptable’

Meanwhile, Yoram Abisror, the executive director of the Atlantic Jewish Council, and Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, have issued a joint statement:

“Whether intimidating sports fans, threatening elected officials, or targeting people at their places of worship, this is absolutely unacceptable in Canada — an assault on our core Canadian values,” said Abisror and Shack. “And requires an unequivocal and urgent response from police and political leaders.”

They noted the vandalism happened the same weekend Team Canada played Israel at the Davis Cup in Halifax. Tennis Canada made the decision last week to hold the matches at the Scotiabank Centre without spectators or media president, citing safety concerns it said were flagged by local authorities and security agencies.

A few hundred protesters gathered at the Halifax Common park on Saturday to voice their opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

People holding a banner made from a tennis net that read “Don’t play ball” led the demonstration and some signs denounced Fillmore for allowing the event to take place. Friday’s matches were also protested.

About 400 Canadian athletes and academics had previously urged Tennis Canada to cancel the games.

Last week the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said it was disappointed the event would be closed to fans.

Canada advanced to the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers after taking a 3-0 lead over Israel in a best-of-five tie.

With files from The Canadian Press and CTV Atlantic’s Jesse Thomas

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