Toronto Man Displaying ‘Terrorist Flag’ Arrested for Public Incitement of Hatred

Toronto Police Service (TPS) Chief of Police Myron Demkiw speaks at the TPS monthly board meeting on Jan. 11, 2024. Mr. Demkiw announced the arrest of a Toronto man, charged with public incitement of hatred for displaying what the police described as a "terrorist flag" during a protest in downtown Toronto on Jan. 7, 2024.(Courtesy of TPS)

A Toronto man has been arrested and charged with public incitement of hatred after displaying what police describe as a “terrorist flag” during a demonstration in the city’s downtown.

Maged Sameh Hilal Al Khalaf, 41, was arrested and charged after he allegedly marched in the Queen Street West and Bay Street area waving the flag of an organization listed as a terrorist group by Public Safety Canada, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) stated in a press release issued on Jan. 11. Mr. Al Khalaf is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on Feb. 23 at 2 p.m.

“Hate and intimidation can have no space in our city and we have been unwavering in our commitment to restore the sense of public safety, and not tolerate behavior that crosses the line to criminal activity,” Chief of Police Myron Demkiw said in the press release.

The service declined to disclose the specific terrorist symbol associated with the arrest.

“We will not be providing further information on the terrorist symbolism that resulted in the arrest as we do not want to be complicit in providing a platform to acknowledge or promote the hateful ideology that accompanies terrorists or terrorist activity,” TPS spokesperson Stephanie Sayer told The Epoch Times in an email statement.

However, the police service highlighted escalating demonstrations in the city, particularly at Avenue Road bridge over Highway 401 overpass, where a number of pro-Palestinian protests have taken place in recent weeks. Police said these demonstrations “now pose a public safety threat that has left many in the surrounding Jewish community feeling intimidated.”

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“Moving forward, demonstrations or the congregation of individuals on the Avenue Road overpass will not be permitted. People can expect to be arrested if necessary,” Mr. Demkiw said.

Toronto has seen a rise in anti-Israeli protests in recent months, following a surprise attack on Israel by the Gaza-based terrorist group Hamas last October. Canada has designated Hamas as a “terrorist organization.”

The intensity of these protests escalated after Israel initiated a military operation against Hamas. Demonstrators blocked roads and led to the shutdown of highway overpasses. Similar protests have raised additional public security concerns, as some protesters disrupted a school board meeting in Ontario and forced a recess at the Saskatchewan Legislature.

Mushrooming ‘Hate Crime’

Mr. Al Khalaf’s arrest was announced during the TPS monthly board meeting on Jan. 11, according to the press release. Mr. Demkiw highlighted a significant increase in reported hate crimes in Toronto during the meeting.

“Our officers have worked tirelessly to manage 308 demonstrations …. exponentially more than any other city in Canada,” he stated.

From January to September 2023, the service addressed an average of 47 hate crime related calls per month. From October to December 2023, that average increased to 190 hate crime related calls each month, according to the press release.

“Anti-Semitism continues to be the most frequently reported hate crime category,” states the release, representing 37 percent of all reported hate crimes in 2023. In that year, 132 anti-Semitic hate crimes were reported, an increase from the 65 reported in 2022. To date in 2024, police said there have been three reported hate crimes in Toronto, including two that targeted the Jewish community.

Between Oct. 7, 2023, and Jan. 10, 2024, there were 54 arrests and 117 charges laid in connection with hate-related crimes, the release stated. The most common charges among the 117 were related to mischief (24 percent, 28 charges), assault (19 percent, 22 charges), and uttering threats (15 percent, 17 charges).

In addition to protests and road blockages, there have been direct attacks on Jewish communities in recent months. On Jan. 3, a fire occurred at a Jewish-owned grocery store in North York, which was also vandalized with “Free Palestine” graffiti. On Nov. 7, 2023, police responded to incidents involving incendiary devices thrown at two locations in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, a suburb of Montreal. The “firebombing” caused minor damage to the front door of a synagogue and the back door of a nearby Jewish community center.

On Nov. 15, 2023, the Anne and Max Tanenbaum Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto, a Jewish private high school located in North York, was evacuated due to a reported bomb threat. A K9 police dog unit was deployed for the investigation, and a nearby daycare was also evacuated as a precaution.