Police seek suspect after 'free Palestine' graffiti found in Vaughan, Markham

Investigators with York Regional Police are asking for the public's help in tracking down a masked person after graffiti that read "free Palestine" and "free Gaza" was discovered sprayed on properties in Vaughan and Markham Monday — including at a synagogue. 

Police said in a news release issued Tuesday that investigators with the force's hate crime unit "suspect these incidents to be hate motivated."

Investigators say that between 12 a.m. and 1 a.m. Monday, a lone suspect walked up to several properties in the area of Yonge Street and Centre Street — as well as on Clark Avenue — and used red spray paint to write what the news release described as "antisemitic messages."

A synagogue was one of the targets, as well as businesses, police said.

Police did not initially specify what the graffiti said, but in an email Wednesday, Const. Kevin Nebrija said it read "free Palestine" and "free Gaza," referencing the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

"The spray painting on the properties constitutes Mischief under the Criminal Code," Nebrija said. "The messages that were spray painted are being investigated as anti-semitic."

In security camera footage, the suspect in this case appears to be wearing a black and white Halloween mask that looks like a ghostface mask, popularized in the Scream franchise.

Investigators also say the suspect was driving a light blue SUV.

Police say they believe the incidents are hate motivated, and are asking any witnesses who have yet to speak with investigators or people with dashcam footage in the area around the time of the incidents to come forward.

York Regional Police's website lists a hate crime as a crime "motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on race, nationality, ethnicity, language, colour, religion, gender, age, mental or physical disability or sexual orientation of the victim."

"York Regional Police takes these matters seriously," the news release reads. "All reports of hate crime or hate/bias incidents will be investigated thoroughly."

Anyone with information is being asked to call investigators or to leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.

In an emailed statement, Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca said the vandalism targeting the city's Jewish community is "unacceptable" and needs to be denounced "in the strongest possible terms."

"Our Jewish neighbours deserve to live their lives without fear, and to be and feel safe at all times," he said.