Toronto police say the number of incidents officers determined to be hate-motivated has gone up nearly 55 per cent compared with the same period last year.
Deputy Chief Robert Johnson told the Toronto Police Service Board this morning that officers are responding to an average of five hate crime calls a day.
He said antisemitism accounted for nearly 45 per cent of 221 alleged hate crimes so far this year – more than any other category.
Johnson said that since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, police have responded to 1,378 calls for reported hate crimes, and 333 incidents were determined to be hate-motivated.
The deputy chief said officers have made 107 arrests and laid 268 charges related to alleged hate crimes in that time.
He said the most common are mischief, assault and uttering threats, adding 88 per cent were alleged crimes against property.