Police have launched a hate crime investigation after a suspect sprayed anti-Semitic graffiti near a sculpture outside the Art Gallery of Ontario earlier this week.
It happened on the northeast corner of the gallery near Dundas and McCaul streets Wednesday night.
Police say a man was seen using white spray paint near the Couch Monster bronze sculpture, which depicts an elephant assembled from sofas, armchairs and other furniture.
The Hate Crime Squad was subsequently consulted and the incident is now being treated as a suspected hate crime, according to police.
An image of the suspect was also released.
He is described as being in his 50s with a medium build, shoulder-length brown and gray hair with a bald patch on the top of his head and gray and white facial hair. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt with the words “Tobacco” on the front, a black sleeveless hoodie with faded black and gray jeans, black Adidas sneakers with blue soles, and a wristwatch with black bands on each wrist. She also carried a black drawstring bag.
This is just the latest incident of anti-Semitic graffiti in Toronto.
Earlier on Friday, police also released surveillance images of two men who allegedly sprayed anti-Semitic graffiti at three different locations in North York last month.
These incidents are believed to have occurred in the area of Yonge Street and Empress Avenue in the early hours of June 9.
Two suspects wanted in connection with an alleged hate-motivated graffiti incident in Toronto are seen in this surveillance image. (Toronto Police Service)
The first suspect is described as 16 to 20 years old with a thin build. He was last seen wearing all black clothes and a blue mask on his face.
The second suspect is 16 to 20 years old with a medium build. He was last seen wearing a dark hat, a gray long-sleeved shirt and jacket with reflective stripes on the arms, black shorts, black shoes with white soles and a blue mask.
Police are currently investigating the North York incident as malicious, but the hate crime unit has been notified and will support the investigation if necessary.
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