London doctor charged again with same alleged ketchup crime at MP's office
A Western University associate professor was also charged
A London doctor has been charged for a second time with spraying ketchup on the outside of an MP's office, the very day charges were dropped against him for the same action.
Dr. Tarek Loubani, an emergency room doctor and a vocal advocate for the Palestinian people, is facing new mischief charges, London police said in a statement Friday.
He and Western University Associate Professor David Heap, also an activist, were allegedly at London North Centre Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos's office on Tuesday taking part in a demonstration.
"During the course of the demonstration, a suspect male removed a bottle of ketchup from his jacket pocket and proceeded to spray the liquid on the building. The suspect male then provided ketchup to the second suspect and others who proceeded to spread it on the building," police said.
They continue to look for the other suspects who participated and hope witnesses will come forward with photos or videos.
Loubani has been upfront with his actions explaining that the first time he was charged with spraying ketchup in November 2023, he was protesting the Liberal government's refusal to call on Israel to issue a ceasefire in the war in Gaza.
On Tuesday, when he returned to the office, he said he was continuing to advocate for those being killed in the region.
"I did it. I sprayed ketchup on Fragiskatos's office. The ketchup is a totem, a representation of the blood that is on Fragiskatos' hands," Loubani told CBC News Tuesday.
Loubani and Heap are both charged with one count of mischief under $5,000.