On April 2, 2026, Toronto Police issued the following statement:
Case #: 2026-548055
The Toronto Police Service is making the public aware of an arrest made for Public Incitement of Hatred at a demonstration.
On Sunday, March 15, 2026, at approximately 1:15 p.m., protestors and counter-protestors attended a demonstration at the intersection of Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue West.
It is alleged that:
the accused attended the demonstration with other protestors and displayed an antisemitic sign
he marched with the sign toward the group of pro-Israeli supporters while shouting derogatory slurs
the accused was later identified through investigation
On April 2, 2026, members of the Hate Crime Unit executed a Criminal Code Search Warrant and located the accused.
Muhammad Anas Sial, 33, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with:
Public Incitement of Hatred
He was scheduled to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on Thursday April 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., in courtroom 105.
Also today, in early morning hours, a number of search warrants were carried out across Toronto, including at residences and a self-storage unit. The signs that were displayed on March 15 were seized along with other evidence. Police also seized a number of phones and laptops from suspects and persons of interest.
This is an active and ongoing criminal investigation.
The Toronto Police Service determined that the conduct observed on March 15, along with other factors, represented an escalation in behaviour that became a clear risk to public safety. As a result, the Toronto Police Service has implemented an operational ban to prevent demonstrators from entering residential streets in the Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue West area. […]
Myron Demkiw, the Chief of Police for the Toronto Police, stated:
I would like to provide an update on a matter of significant public interest that is being investigated by our Hate Crime Unit.
On March 15, in the Bathurst and Sheppard area, anti-Semitic signage was displayed by a number of individuals, some of whom also shouted derogatory slurs.
Today, one of these individuals was arrested and charged with public incitement of hatred. Also today, in the early morning hours, a number of search warrants were carried out across Toronto, including at residences and a self-storage unit.
The signs that were displayed on March 15 were seized along with other evidence. Police also seized a number of phones and laptops from suspects and persons of interest. We are reviewing the evidence and we are allocating all the necessary resources to this work.
This is an active and ongoing criminal investigation. This holiday weekend and beyond, there will be an increased and visible police presence, including rotating command posts near synagogues throughout the city.
Toronto is a place where people from diverse backgrounds live together in harmony, and we will continue doing everything we can so that our communities are and feel safe.