Halifax Regional Police have charged a 31-year-old man with public incitement of hatred following an investigation into antisemitic graffiti found at three Jewish sites. Gezim Topalli was arrested at his home in Halifax on Tuesday. He is scheduled to appear in Halifax provincial court on Wednesday to face multiple charges, including three counts of mischief related to religious property and three counts of property damage.

The graffiti incidents occurred over the weekend, with Topalli allegedly spray-painting a swastika on the Shaar Shalom synagogue on Oxford Street. Additional graffiti was discovered at the Beth Israel synagogue and on a nearby building associated with the Chabad-Lubavitch of the Maritimes Rohr Family Institute. One of the messages included the phrase “Jews did 9/11.” These acts of vandalism followed several days of protests in Halifax against Israeli participation in the Davis Cup tennis tournament.

Halifax Police Chief Don MacLean expressed satisfaction with the investigation's outcome. He acknowledged the community's role in identifying the suspect, stating, "I am pleased with the outcome of this investigation. While I credit the quick and thorough work of HRP’s hate crime investigator, I also want to thank the public who came forward to help identify the suspect. The swift and seamless collaboration between police and the community represents our city taking a strong and unified stance against the promotion of hatred."

Mayor Andy Fillmore also condemned the graffiti, calling the attacks on places of worship "unacceptable" and emphasizing that such actions have no place in Halifax. He noted the importance of maintaining respectful conversations about identity and justice, stating, "We cannot allow that complexity to collapse into hate here at home."

Police are urging anyone who experiences offensive, threatening, or intimidating behavior to report it by calling 902-490-5020. They emphasized the importance of documenting such incidents, even if they do not result in criminal charges.