After a man was arrested for defacing three Halifax synagogues with swastikas and graffiti claiming Jews were responsible for the September 11 terrorist attacks, Halifax Regional Police announced last Wednesday that a second man was arrested in relation to the incident.
Russell Jared Currie was arrested last Tuesday for the alleged September 13 vandalization of the Shaar Shalom Congregation, Beth Israel Synagogue, the Chabad-Lubavitch of the Maritimes Rohr Family Institute, and three spots on nearby sidewalks.
"Jews did 9/11" was spray-painted on the wall next to Shaar Shalom’s doors, and a swastika was scrawled on the sign.
The 32-year-old suspect was brought before Halifax provincial court last Wednesday to face charges of public incitement to hatred, three counts of mischief related to religious property, and another three counts of property damage.
Another man, Gezim Topalli, had been arrested on September 17. The 31-year-old faced the same charges as Currie.
'Significant escalation' against Jewish community
Shaar Shalom described the incident on Facebook as a “significant escalation for us as Jews in the city.”
Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore condemned the incident, reminding that there was “no path to peace anywhere that includes bringing fear and division to Halifax.”