Ottawa police link teen to 6 racist graffiti incidents

Ottawa police say a teen in custody since Saturday is linked to six incidents of racist graffiti targeting religious communities in Ottawa last week.

The boy, who appeared in court on Saturday, faces 20 charges including:

• 6 counts of mischief targeting religious buildings.
• 6 counts of uttering threats.
• 6 counts of breach of youth probation.
• 2 counts of possession of a dangerous weapon.

Police arrested the teen on Saturday after a Jewish community centre in west Ottawa was defaced overnight — the sixth incident of racist graffiti in less than a week.

Last week, five other places of worship in Ottawa were spray-painted with racist graffiti including:

• Racist graffiti spray-painted on Parkdale United Church, Ottawa Muslim Association
• Anti-Semitic graffiti spray-painted on Machzikei Hadas synagogue
• Ottawa woman wakes to find anti-Semitic graffiti spray-painted on her home

The Kehillat Beth Israel Synagogue was also spray-painted with hate graffiti on Nov. 13.

Police would not confirm the age of the teenager and because he is not an adult, his name cannot be published.

Police said the teen remains in police custody and continues to be interviewed by investigators and more charges could be laid. 

Police said surveillance video footage, as well as information from the public was part of the investigation.