Hate crime investigators probing the defacing of the National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa this week are asking the public to help identify the man who they suspect is responsible for the incident.
The recently re-established hate crimes unit of the Ottawa Police Service released photos of the suspect they’re looking for on Friday morning.
The 20- to 25-year-old man stands between five feet 10 inches and six feet one inch tall, investigators say. In the photos, he is seen wearing a red jacket over a grey hoodie and dark pants, and carrying a black backpack.
Police are asking anyone with information about the man’s identity — or the incident — to call Det. Ali Toghrol at 613-236-1222, ext. 5453, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
The vandalism of the Holocaust monument, located near the intersection of Booth and Wellington streets, was reported to officers at around 4 p.m. on Jan. 29, according to Ottawa police.
It appeared eggs had been thrown at the monument’s walls. Police said Wednesday evening the incident would be investigated as a “hate-motivated” incident.
Ottawa police Chief Peter Sloly has called the incident “disturbing.”
“Incidents such as this are deeply disturbing to many communities especially when they target specific groups,” Sloly tweeted Wednesday night.
“It is completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated.”
The two-year-old monument is a large installation a short distance west of Parliament Hill, with several distinct areas a person can walk through.
It commemorates the deaths of an estimated six million European Jews at the hands of Nazi Germany before and during the Second World War.
Crews began cleaning the monument Wednesday night and were seen cleaning again Thursday morning.
The local hate crimes unit is also investigating a separate incident at Algonquin College this week in which a three-storey Indigenous mural was splattered with yellow paint on Tuesday night, according to police.
Investigators have released suspect photos in that case as well and are asking the public for help identifying the man.
Anyone with information about that suspect is also asked to call Toghrol with the Ottawa police or Crime Stoppers.
— With files from the Canadian Press
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