Father, son charged after alleged hate-motivated incidents east of Toronto

A father and his 14-year-old son have been arrested and charged after an investigation into two separate hate-motivated incidents east of Toronto, police say.

Durham Regional Police said in a news release on Wednesday that the alleged incidents happened at two locations.

On Jan. 30, at about 5:25 p.m., a man entered a Canadian Tire store in Bowmanville, Ont., and CCTV footage showed him placing antisemitic pamphlets in various places throughout the store. Employees turned the pamphlets over to police.

On May 24, at 10:30 p.m., police were called to a mosque in Orono, Ont., where several vehicles and the front door had been damaged.

Police said they executed two search warrants on Monday at a residence in Clarington, where two males were arrested and several items were seized.

A Clarington man, 34, has been charged with mischief to property, while a Clarington boy, 14, has been charged with mischief relating to religious property.

"We recognize the significant impact these incidents have had, especially on our Jewish and Muslim communities," Const. Brittany Kennedy said in a video posted to X on Wednesday.

"Acts that target or instill fear in any group are completely unacceptable and are taken very seriously."

Kennedy said hate crime is not a standalone charge in the Criminal Code but there are four offences that relate to hate. Police will consult with the Crown attorney's office to determine if hate was an aggravating factor in these cases.

Durham police has a dedicated hate crime unit to keep its communities safe.

"We remain committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and well-being of every member of our community. Hate in any form will not be tolerated," she said.

"We are working closely with community leaders to offer support and reassurance. As always, we stand firmly against hate, discrimination, and intolerance in any forms."