Investigations opened in 45 hate crimes in Montreal: police

MONTREAL – Police have opened 45 hate-crimes investigations since the beginning of the year, according to the Journal de Montréal.

Most of the cases, according to officials, are related to criminal mischief and vandalism.

READ MORE: Montreal police investigate hate crime after vehicles spray-painted

Police investigated 60 crimes in 2013 and 76 in 2014 – about a 25 per cent increase.

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This comes after an incident in an underground parking garage in NDG last February where residents found five cars spray-painted with swastikas on the hood.

One had a broken windshield with a hatchet next to it; several envelopes contained death threats.

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In June, about a dozen anti-Semitic symbols were painted onto the Lachapelle Bridge between Montreal and Laval.

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More than just simple scribbles, they were hateful messages aimed at the Jewish community.

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Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre spoke out following the incidents, saying he wanted police to set up dedicated a hate-crimes unit to fight discrimination.