Bathurst–Sheppard Hate Propaganda Charge, Iranian-Linked Terrorism Allegations, and Other Hate Crime Developments
- Rochelle Direnfeld
- May 24
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 1
New charge added in Bathurst/Sheppard hate propaganda case
On Wednesday, May 20, Muhammad Anas Sial, 33, was charged with wilful promotion of hatred against the Jewish community, arising out of a March 15, 2026 incident at Bathurst and Sheppard in Toronto where reprehensible signs reminiscent of 1930’s Nazi Germany were displayed by anti-Israel protestors. This represented an additional charge to public incitement of hatred likely to lead to a breach of a peace already laid against Sial last month. Wilful promotion of hatred is a charge that requires the personal consent of the Attorney General.
We welcome this additional charge. We have repeatedly identified the underutilization of public incitement and wilful promotion of hatred charges as a major issue in cases involving blatant hatred against Jews and Israelis. We have publicly urged the police to consider these and other charges in these situations. We have also advocated for a streamlined process to obtain the Attorney General’s consent where required.
Accordingly, it is important to acknowledge that we are now seeing a significant increase in the use of these charges, particularly in Toronto. We have reported on the increased use of these charges – for example, in connection with the November 2025 attack by masked intruders on an off-campus meeting held by TMU’s Students Supporting Israel.
We commend the Toronto police and the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General for the greater use of the tools available to them to combat hate, and the more expeditious process in several of these cases to secure the Attorney General’s consent.
Two additional accused arrested in relation to synagogue shootings
On May 7, 2026, we reported on the arrest of a young person in relation to the shootings of Shaarei Shomayim Synagogue in Toronto and Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto Synagogue in Thornhill. We will continue to monitor developments in this case and provide updates as further information becomes available.
Arrest of Iranian backed terrorist linked to Canadian terror attacks
On May 15, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, 32, an Iraqi national and senior member of Kata’ib Hizballah, a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization. While Hizballah is a Canadian listed terrorist entity, Kata’ib Hizballah is not.
Al-Saadi was charged with multiple offences with penalties ranging from a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison to a maximum penalty of life in prison:
(i) conspiring to provide material support to Kata’ib Hizballah, a foreign terrorist organization;
(ii) conspiring to provide material support to the IRGC, a foreign terrorist organization;
(iii) conspiring to provide material support for acts of terrorism of attempting and conspiring to murder nationals of the United States, and bombing and conspiring to bomb a place of public use;
(iv) providing material support for acts of terrorism;
(v) conspiring to bomb a place of public use; and
(vi) attempted destruction of property by means of fire or explosive.
According to U.S. court filings, Al-Saadi and unidentified associates planned, coordinated and claimed responsibility for at least 18 terrorist attacks in Europe, and two in Canada in the name of Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, a component of Kata’ib Hizballah.
Authorities believe the Canadian targets include the March 10 shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto and another at an undisclosed synagogue. Three synagogues in the GTA were the victims of shootings at that time.
Kata’ib Hizballah is part of an Iran-backed Iraqi militia that regularly claims responsibility for attacks on American targets in the Middle East. Kata’ib Hizballah was also responsible for kidnapping American journalist Shelly Kittleson for several days in March 2026.
On or about March 9, 2026—the day of the first of a series of terrorist attacks in Europe, —Al-Saadi posted on one of his social media accounts a message calling on “warriors of Islam” to engage in “jihad,” or violent holy war. From that point on, Al-Saadi and his associates allegedly have carried out attacks against U.S. interests. Al-Saadi and Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya have also published videos of such attacks.
Al-Saadi was transferred into U.S. custody overseas and transported to the United States. He appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in a Manhattan courtroom and ordered detained pending trial. The case was investigated by multiple law enforcement and counterterrorism agencies, spearheaded by the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Suspect arrested in vandalism to Menorah
On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, members of the Toronto Police Service Hate Crimes Unit arrested Jeffrey Johnston, 48, of Toronto, and charged him with:
Mischief to Property Under $5000
The allegations are as follows:
On Friday, April 10, 2026, the accused was walking in the area of the Yorkville Jewish Centre on Avenue Road in Toronto;
a large Menorah was positioned in front of the Jewish Centre;
as the accused walked by the Menorah, he knocked it down, causing it to be damaged.
He was held in custody for a bail hearing and was scheduled to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 10 a.m., in room 102. His bail hearing had not yet been conducted as of the date of this report.
In their media release, the Toronto Police thanked the public for their assistance in the investigation, indicating that the accused was identified as a result of tips received from the public.
This investigation is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence.
Mr. Johnston has not been charged with bias, prejudice or hate motivated mischief to property pursuant to section 430(4.1) of the Criminal Code. “Property” for the purposes of this section is defined as including “part of a building or structure, that is primarily used for religious worship – including a church, mosque, synagogue or temple – or an object associated with religious worship located in or on the grounds of such a building or structure, or a cemetery”. In our view, consideration should be given to the addition of this charge.
Counter demonstrator charged in anti-Iranian Regime protest
York Regional Police have charged Mehran Mohagheghi, 39, of Richmond Hill with the following:
Assault with a Weapon
Dangerous Operation
Uttering Threats
Failure to Stop After Accident
The allegations are as follows:
On Sunday, May 10, 2026, a Mother’s Day rally that also called for liberation of the Iranian people from the current regime was taking place in the area of Major Mackenzie Drive West and Yonge Street in Richmond Hill. At approximately 3:15 p.m., police responded to reports of a dangerous driver in the area. The accused was operating a motor vehicle in a dangerous manner near the ongoing rally. He struck a food delivery driver who was not involved in the demonstration and, while fleeing the scene, struck another vehicle. The suspect then stopped his vehicle to yell threats at the demonstrators before being taken into custody.
According to an eyewitness, he waved a flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran after exiting his vehicle. The victim was transported to hospital with minor injuries.
York Regional Police are urging any witnesses who have not yet spoken to investigators to come forward as soon as possible, along with anyone who has video footage, including dashcam, cell phone, or security recordings from the area around the time of the incident.
The investigation is ongoing.
Vandalism to a Toronto church
On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Sohrab Mehmandoust, 45, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with:
Four counts of mischief motivated by bias, prejudice or hate
The allegations are as follows:
between August 6, 2025, and May 5, 2026, the accused attended a church multiple times in the Don Mills Road and Fairview Mall Drive area
on each occasion, the accused damaged the outer glass doors of the church before fleeing the area
He was held for a bail hearing, appearing in court on May 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. He was released from custody on bail and is to appear in court again on June 19, 2026 at the Ontario Court of Justice, 10 Armoury Street, Toronto.
Windsor Police arrest man in hate motivated harassment
The Windsor Police Service has arrested a 31-year-old man after an investigation into repeated hate-motivated communications targeting members of the local Jewish community.
Shortly after 12 a.m. on May 7, 2026, officers located and arrested the accused at a home near Windsor’s downtown core. He has been charged with;
two counts of harassing communications.
The allegations are as follows:
On May 5, 2026, the Windsor Police Major Crimes Unit launched an investigation after receiving a report that two Jewish community organizations had received a series of voicemail messages containing antisemitic and otherwise derogatory language.
Investigators learned that between April 23 and May 5, 2026, the organizations received several unwanted voicemails from the same individual. Although the messages did not contain direct threats of physical harm, investigators determined that the tone, frequency, and content of the calls were harassing and clearly targeted the Jewish community.
Windsor Police have not released the name of the accused.
Upgraded charges in demonstration at UJA event, Meridian Hall
On September 11, 2025, Adam Al-Karim Janmohamed was charged by Toronto Police with causing a disturbance by shouting and using obscene language. The allegations are that Janmohamed was protesting a UJA event being held at Meridian Hall. He was shouting obscenities at attendees as they entered the event.
On March 31, 2026, a new information was filed with the court, adding a charge of public incitement of hatred against the Jewish people likely to lead to a breach of the peace. As readers know, we have advocated for the increased use of public incitement of hatred charges, where appropriate to reflect the seriousness of activities targeting our community. This charge does not require the prior consent of the Attorney General.
We will continue to follow and report on these cases. Where appropriate, we will also coordinate community impact statements in cases where accused are found guilty of hate-motivated crimes.
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About the Author
Rochelle Direnfeld is ALCCA’s Senior Criminal Counsel. She was called to the Ontario bar in 1990 and has served in the Ontario Public Service for over 32 years as an assistant crown attorney, deputy crown attorney, crown counsel, and finally as Deputy Director for Toronto Crown Attorneys in the Criminal Law Division of the Ministry of the Attorney General. Rochelle retired from public service at the end of 2023. During her career, she prosecuted a wide variety of Criminal Code cases in the Ontario Court of Justice, Superior Court of Justice, and the Ontario Court of Appeal.
Rochelle is also the Chair of the Canadian Criminal Law Working Group, a national initiative bringing together leading criminal lawyers to strengthen the legal response to antisemitic hate crimes and support victims across Canada.
She has also been selected to join the Toronto Police Service Board’s Jewish Community Advisory Table, an initiative aimed at strengthening dialogue and collaboration between the Jewish community and the Toronto Police Service on issues of community safety and policing.