On January 21, 2024, the Toronto Police Service issued the following press release:
The Toronto Police Service is making the public aware of arrests made in a Mischief investigation.
On Sunday, December 17, 2023, at approximately 4:55 p.m., police were in the area of Yonge Street and Shuter Street for a demonstration.
It is alleged that:
the two men were participating in a demonstration in the Toronto Eaton Centre
the men were blocking the entrance to a store and preventing employees from closing
both men began pushing security and were trying to gain entry into the store
police were attempting to remove the protestors from the area, when one of the men pushed an officer
the other man then used an umbrella to strike an officer
the demonstrators banged on the store shutters and yelled at store employees and officers
one man then made a verbal threat towards an individual in the mall
Police later identified the two men involved in this incident.
On Saturday, January 20, 2024, members of the Hate Crime Unit conducted a Criminal Code Search Warrant in relation to this offence.
It is further alleged that:
at the time of the search, officers recovered items of evidentiary value related to the investigation
Amro Saeed Ahmad Abufarick, 19, of Toronto, has been arrested and charged with:
Unlawful Assembly
Member of an Unlawful Assembly While masked
Mischief Interfere with Property
Assault Peace Officer
Uttering Threats
He was scheduled to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at 10 a.m., in room 601.
Malek Said Ahma Abufarick, 34, of Toronto, has been arrested and charged with:
Unlawful Assembly
Mischief Interfere with Property
Assault Peace Officer
He was scheduled to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at 10 a.m., in room 601.
As a reminder, the Service respects people’s right to demonstrate lawfully, but anyone whose behaviour crosses the line from lawful demonstration to criminality can be arrested. Just because someone is not issued a charge at the time does not mean that they cannot be laid at a later date. Officers will continue to investigate, gather evidence, and determine whether charges are appropriate.
The Toronto Sun reported:
Police have laid charges related to a Dec. 17 anti-Israel protest outside a Zara store in the Eaton Centre… “These are serious charges … They reflect the growing extremism, hate, and risks to public safety we’re seeing at anti-Israel protests,” said Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, vice president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. “This isn’t just about the clear threat to Toronto’s Jewish community. It’s about the kind of society we want to live in.”