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Kirkland man faces two charges for allegedly posting hate speech on social media

Click to play video: 'Kirkland man to be held in jail ahead of bail hearing'
Kirkland man to be held in jail ahead of bail hearing
WATCH ABOVE: A 45-year-old Kirkland man is facing two charges after allegedly posting hate speech on social media. Global's Billy Shields reports – Feb 1, 2017

Antonio Padula, a 45-year-old Kirkland man, has been charged with uttering threats and public incitement of hatred after allegedly posting hate speech on social media.

The prosecution objected to Padula’s released and he is being held in jail until his bail hearing on Thursday.

He appeared in court via video conference.

“I don’t know if I could take another night in there,” said Padula after being told he would not be released until his bail hearing.

Montreal police went to a home on Shediac Street, near de Berne Street in Kirkland, after getting a tip from the Sûreté du Québec’s (SQ) hate crime unit.

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READ MORE: Quebec City mosque shooting: Alexandre Bissonnette known for far-right, nationalist social media posts

Police would not comment on which social media platform the comments were made nor what the message specifically said.

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The arrest comes on the heels of the massacre at a Quebec City mosque, where six people were killed and 19 people were injured by a lone gunman.

The alleged gunman in Sunday’s attack, 27-year-old Alexandre Bissonnette, had been known for his far-right and nationalist social media posts.

In the wake of the attacks, the SQ have warned Quebecers to be vigilant about what they post on social media.

READ MORE: Hate crimes spike in Montreal after Quebec City mosque shooting

On Tuesday, Montreal police chief Philippe Pichet said there have been 14 reports of hate crimes in the city since the Quebec City mosque shooting.

There’s been a steady rise of hate crimes across the city since 2013.

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