Man charged with hate crime after antisemitic graffiti found on Halifax synagogues

A 31-year-old man is facing charges in relation to hate-motivated graffiti on Halifax synagogues.

A man is facing several charges, including public incitement of hatred, after antisemitic graffiti was found on three synagogues in Halifax over the weekend.

Halifax Regional Police arrested 31-year-old Gezim Topalli at his home in the city on Tuesday.

Topalli is facing the following charges in connection with the incidents, which police are calling hate crimes:

• public incitement of hatred
• three counts of mischief related to religious property
• three counts of property damage

Topalli was set to appear in Halifax provincial court on Wednesday but Nova Scotia’s chief crown attorney says the bail hearing was pushed to Thursday morning, as police and lawyers had more information to exchange.

“I am pleased with the outcome of this investigation. While I credit the quick and thorough work of HRP’s hate crime investigator, I also want to thank the public who came forward to help identify the suspect,” said Halifax Regional Police Chief Don MacLean in a statement.

“The swift and seamless collaboration between police and the community represents our city taking a strong and unified stance against the promotion of hatred.”

The arrest comes after police 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.

Investigators released a photo of a man believed to be the suspect on Monday and had asked for the public’s help in identifying him.

Meanwhile, police are asking anyone who is “exposed to behaviour that is offensive, threatening or intimidating” to report it at 902-490-5020.

“Even if the investigation does not find criminal wrongdoing, it is important to have it on record,” said police in a news release.

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