Lawyers for a local doctor say the Crown Attorney has dropped mischief charges related to a pro-Palestinian demonstration in 2024. Tarek Loubani was set for trial later this year, accused of squirting ketchup all over the front of MP Peter Fragiskatos’ office. In a statement, Loubani’s lawyers say the charges were dropped earlier this week, calling out London police for laying them in the first place saying it was a waste of the court’s time. Loubani was previously charged with mischief in 2023 for a similar incident and had those charges dropped shortly before the 2024 ketchup incident. In a statement to CTV News, London Police Chief Thai Truong wrote, “The London Police Service respects the independence of the Crown Attorney’s Office and its decision in this matter. It is important for the public to understand that police and Crown apply different legal thresholds. Police assess whether there are reasonable grounds to believe an offence has been committed. The Crown then makes its own independent determination about reasonable prospect of conviction and public interest. Those are separate legal assessments.” “In this case, our officers reviewed the evidence, applied the law, and acted appropriately based on the information before them at the time. The London Police Service also fully supports the right of people to protest peacefully and to express their views freely. That is a fundamental part of our democracy,” he added. “Our actions in this matter were not about the message being expressed or the identity of those involved. They were about our duty to assess conduct and evidence fairly, impartially, and without bias.”
