In Vaughan, Ontario, a group of four Jewish adults returning home from their synagogue allegedly experienced antisemitic harassment from Kenneth Jeewan Gobin, 34, as he rode by on an electric bicycle.
York Regional Police said that on Saturday, the victims “felt intimidated by the manner in which the suspect operated the bike in their presence.” Soon an argument began that escalated into Gobin allegedly spitting at the Jews and hurling antisemitic insults their way before leaving the scene.
Gobin was arrested within hours. He received two charges of assault and breaching his probation. Canada previously convicted Gobin in 2007 for carjacking, and the judge at the time said that the perpetrator “demonstrated no remorse.”
In related news, the Toronto Police Service said it had arrested Maged Sameh Hilal Al Khalaf, 41, of Toronto. He has been charged with public incitement of hatred after he allegedly marched in a demonstration waving a flag of a listed terrorist group on Jan. 7 in downtown Toronto.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw also said that a recent series of anti-Israel demonstrations on the Avenue Road and Highway 401 overpass next to a predominantly Jewish neighborhood will no longer be permitted and that “people can expect to be arrested if necessary.”
On Jan. 3, a Jewish-owned grocery store in Toronto bearing the initials “IDF” on its signage experienced a firebombing and vandalism.