Toronto police say they’ve charged two more suspects in connection with an investigation into the wilful promotion of hatred. They say the arrests follow a March 15 demonstration, near Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue West in North York. Investigators say demonstrators and counter-demonstrators attended that rally at around 1:15 p.m. that day. Police say that morning, the accused retrieved antisemitic signs from a storage locker. “Latter that afternoon, (they) attended the demonstration with other protestors and displayed antisemitic signs in full view of the public and a group of pro-Israeli demonstrators situated across the street,” Toronto Police Service said in a news release. The accused then allegedly marched with the signs toward the group of pro-Israeli supporters while “shouting derogatory slurs.” In April, police announced that Muhammad Anas Sial, 33, of Toronto, has been charged with public incitement of hatred and wilful promotion of hatred. In June, they announced the arrest of Hosaam Hemdan, 19; Omer Turcan, 43; Yasaf Skaikh, 46; and Hasan Aydin, 47, all of Toronto, as well as Syed Hussaini, 43, of Whitby. They were all charged with wilful promotion of hatred and public incitement of hatred. Hosaam, Turcan, and Hussaini were additionally charged with disguise with intent. On August 7, members of the Hate Crime Unit executed a search warrant in Toronto, where they located and arrested two more suspects: Daniela Bonamico, 40; and Shahram Nayeb-Yazdi, 63, both of Toronto. They have also both been charged with wilful promotion of hatred and public incitement of hatred. The charges have not been tested in court. The accused were both scheduled to appear in bail court on Aug. 8. In total, eight people have now been charged in connection with this investigation. Anyone with further information is asked to contact Toronto police at 416-808-3505 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
