From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Canada police ask public for help catching Victoria synagogue vandal
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleZev Stub is the Times of Israel's Diaspora Affairs correspondent.
Police in Victoria, Canada, have asked the public for help in identifying the suspect who vandalized the city’s Congregation Emanu-El Synagogue earlier this month.
On Saturday, August 2, the 160-year-old synagogue was vandalized with a screed against Jews on an outer pillar, saying “Jews are evil! Because Genocide is evil!”
“In the future, Palestinians will get their revenge against you child-killing Jew monsters,” the inscription in black ink said. The words were quickly removed.
A White man with gray hair and a red bicycle was caught on security cameras outside. However, security forces have not yet found and apprehended him.
We've released CCTV footage from which the suspect's image was captured & continue to ask for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect.
The investigation is being led by our General Investigation Services (GIS) section, in collaboration w/ our Hate Crimes Coordinator.… https://t.co/Fbm0Upr6uY pic.twitter.com/jRdmhXhJX5
— Victoria Police (@vicpdcanada) August 11, 2025
“We are horrified and heartbroken by this act of hate,” the synagogue wrote on its Facebook page following the attack. “Antisemitism has no place in Victoria, and we call on our neighbours and civic leaders to join us in condemning this act.”
Opened in 1863, the progressive Conservative-stream synagogue is the country’s oldest in continuous use.
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