'Sikh' struck on head in hate-motivated assault in Canada
Darpan News Desk IANS, 23 Jan, 2023 01:19 PM
Toronto, Jan 23 (IANS) A man, apparently a Sikh, was allegedly struck on the head, causing his turban to fall on the ground, by an unidentified man, who also made "derogatory comments" at a subway station in Canada, police said.
Police officers responded to an assault call at the Bloor-Yonge Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway station following the incident last week.
Upon reaching the scene, police found that a man had been struck on the head causing his "religious head covering" -- which they later identified as turban -- to fall on the ground.
The suspect allegedly passed derogatory comments at the victim before he left the TTC station, the Toronto Police said in a statement.
The victim, whose age or religious affiliation were not released by the police, sustained minor injuries on his head.
However, a report in Omni News, a multicultural and multilingual broadcaster in Canada, confirmed the identity of the victim as Sikh in its report.
The suspect was last seen wearing a blue hat and a black jacket and was carrying a black bag.
"After consultation with the specialised Hate Crime Unit, the investigation is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence," the Toronto police said in its statement.
Toronto Mayor John Tory said police are investigating the hate-motivated assault of a man at the subway station. "Our transit system - and city at large - must be safe places for all and free of hatred, without exception," Tory tweeted after the incident.
"Hate has no place in our city. We must all call out and stand together against discrimination and violence," he said.
Condemning the incident, the Toronto Transit Commission said that they will continue to assist Toronto Police in the course of their investigation.
Mona Nemer released the recommendations today from a task force that was established in the summer to respond to post-COVID-19 condition, or long-COVID. Nemer says as of August, about 15 per cent of adults who've had COVID-19 experience symptoms three months or more after their initial infection.
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When officers arrived, they found an unresponsive man with gunshot wounds, who later died in hospital. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has been deployed, and is working with Chilliwack RCMP.
Officers arrived and located a woman suffering from injuries that appeared to be the result of a stabbing. Police and BC Ambulance Service immediately began lifesaving measures but the woman was later pronounced deceased on scene.
Following the incident, an arrest warrant was issued for Singh, and he was arrested late last month. Singh has been charged with 12 offences, including theft of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property and flight from a police officer.
The suspects fled in the stolen vehicle after there was an exchange of gunfire with responding officers. Neither the suspects or responding officers were shot. It is unknown at this time if the outstanding suspects were injured.
