Toronto, August 13: Police in Peterborough, Ontario, have charged an 18-year-old man with an offence containing a hate crime element after an Indian couple was allegedly subjected to racial abuse and threats in a mall parking lot late last month.
The incident occurred on July 29 in the parking lot of Lansdowne Place Mall and was captured in a video that has since gone viral on social media. The footage shows three men inside a truck hurling racial slurs at the couple, with one threatening to kill the man as he attempted to record the vehicle’s licence plate. Another man is seen exiting the truck and making obscene gestures, while one insulted the man’s appearance.
Peterborough police said the accused, from Kawartha Lakes, was arrested on Saturday and released on an undertaking. He is due to appear in court on Sept. 16.
While Canada does not have a standalone hate crime offence applicable to this incident, police said a hate crime element will be addressed as the case proceeds through court.
“Anybody who has seen the video in this case will understand that that type of behaviour is not acceptable in our community, nor any community,” Police Chief Stuart Betts said in a statement. He urged residents to continue reporting hate-motivated incidents, adding that public information was key to pursuing charges.
The video’s circulation has sparked outrage online, with many calling for stronger action against hate crimes.
