Boy, 14, charged in hate-motivated incidents targeting the Jewish community in GTA

A police badge is visible on a York Regional Police officer's uniform. (Source: YRP/X)

A teenage boy is facing multiple charges in connection with several hate-motivated incidents across York Region and Toronto targeting the Jewish community.

York Regional Police (YRP) said they were notified about the situation, last November.

They said the suspect “made anti-Semitic comments over the phone to staff members at synagogues, community centres and Jewish schools.”

On Wednesday, police executed a warrant at a home in Newmarket and arrested a 14-year-old boy from Newmarket.

Police say officers also located a quantity of a controlled substance believed to be psilocybin (magic mushrooms) during that raid.

The accused has been charged with one count of possession of a schedule III substance and ten counts each of mischief relating to religious property and indecent communications.

He cannot be named under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

“Hate has no place in York Region, and we continue to stand with the Jewish community. We will always do our part to end hate, bigotry and discrimination in all forms,” Police Chief Jim MacSween said in a news release.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with further information is asked to contact YRP’s Hate Crime Prevention Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6552, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.