The Winnipeg Police Service reported on “Commercial Robbery/Hate Crime – Investigation: C19-82871”:
On April 18, 2019, at approximately 10:45 p.m., emergency services personnel responded to a Medic call at a restaurant located in the 1800 block of Corydon Ave.
Responders located an adult female within the café who had been assaulted. She was conveyed to hospital in stable condition where she was treated and released.
Officers determined that the business was likely the target of a robbery. In addition, the entire restaurant had been severely vandalized. The vandalism included property damage and spray-painted, hate-related graffiti.
The Winnipeg Police Service Major Crimes Unit is investigating this as a hate-related crime in conjunction with a Commercial Robbery.”
On April 19, 2019 the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg issued the following statement:
We are sickened by the disturbing and appalling crime which took place at BerMax Caffé + Bistro yesterday evening, and we will do all we can to support the family and those affected. The Winnipeg Police Service is investigating as a hate crime, and we are confident that they are taking every measure necessary to identify the perpetrator/s. We urge anyone who may have information to contact the police immediately. We know that the vast majority of the Winnipeg community rejects hatred, and this senseless and horrible crime does not undermine that fact.
TheJ.Ca provided more details on this incident:
A River Heights restaurant was the scene of a brutal robbery that sent an employee to hospital, and police report antsemitic graffiti was spray-painted inside the Jewish-owned business by the suspects.
The attack happened only a few hours after the Cafe posted an online photo of their support for the Jewish National Fund Negev Dinner Gala set for May.
Cst. Rob Carver revealed that in fact, 4 similar hate crime incidents at BerMax Caffé + Bistro had been investigated in the past 5 months…
Maxim Berent complained of a variety of attacks since the restaurant opened in 2014, including egging, breaking and entering, and a smashed window.