Police investigating forced entry attempt into Toronto area Jewish centre, assault

York Regional Police are investigating what they are calling a hate-motivated incident in Vaughan, Ontario.

YRP are reporting that around 9:35 Saturday morning, a male suspect attempted to gain forced entry at the Sephardic Kehila Centre on Bathurst Street on Saturday morning. The centre serves members of the Jewish community who are of Sephardic heritage, descending from Spain and Portugal.

HATE/BIAS-MOTIVATED INCIDENT09:35am7026 Bathurst Street, VaughanSephardic Kehila Centre- male suspect (pictured below) attempted to force his way into a Synagogue and assaulted a victim prior to fleeing the scene- the victim was not injured- York Regional Police Hate Crime… pic.twitter.com/hssjGcWHAw

— York Regional Police (@YRP) April 25, 2026

The male suspect fled the scene, assaulting someone while doing so.

However, YRP says “the victim was not injured.”

Police are searching for the suspect.

Vaughan’s mayor Steven Del Duca posted about the incident Saturday afternoon on X.

I have been made aware of a deeply disturbing assault at the Sephardic Kehila Centre. @YRP is investigating and I urge anyone with information to come forward. pic.twitter.com/IFf4fqRuBp

— Steven Del Duca (@StevenDelDuca) April 25, 2026

“ I have been made aware of a deeply disturbing assault at the Sephardic Kehila Centre. (York Regional Police)

is investigating and I urge anyone with information to come forward.”

Further, he wrote that “in a time when antisemitism and Jew hatred is on the rise, we must be vigilant and do everything possible to support and protect our Jewish residents. This remains a top priority for me as Mayor of Vaughan.”

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