Four more arrests for alleged hate-motivated assaults targeting Toronto’s Jewish community

Luka Chokheli, 20, Alishahin Isayev, 23, a 16-year-old boy and 17-year-old girl were each charged with three counts of assault with a weapon and one count of possession of a weapon. Isayev and the female youth were additionally charged with mischief interfere with property. Stephenson said some of the accused were linked to the first assault while others were implicated in the second incident. “While this matter remains before the courts, I will say this: allegations targeting violence against a community demands a thorough and determined response,” Stephenson said. “We also recognize that incidents like these can be early warning signs of something more serious. When allegations, targeted hate-motivated violence, come to our attention, early intervention matters.

That is why investigators work tirelessly to follow the evidence and identify everyone who is involved.” No link to recent arrest by U.S. authorities Stephenson said investigators are aware of the recent arrest of Iraqi national Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi by U.S. authorities, who is alleged to be a commander of Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, for plotting terror attacks and assassinations in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. “We are connected with our federal and international partners on that,” Stephenson said. “But currently, I can tell you there’s no direct linkage to this case and that we have no direct threat against the Jewish community at this time.” Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact police at 416-808-3505 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).