Investigation into Hate Crime: Vancouver Woman Arrested for Publicly Praising Hamas Attack
According to police, a 44-year-old woman has been taken into custody as part of a hate-crime investigation related to a speech she made in Vancouver praising the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.
The Vancouver Police Department issued a statement stating that the woman had “referred to a number of terrorist organizations as heroes,” sparking concern and prompting a criminal inquiry to determine if her remarks violated hate-crime legislation.
The controversial speech, delivered outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on April 26, garnered a strong reaction from dignitaries such as Premier David Eby and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim.
The police initiated the investigation on the day of the speech, and the suspect has been released pending ongoing inquiries.
Footage from the rally at the art gallery shows the woman leading chants of “long live Oct. 7” and applauding the attackers as “heroic and brave.”
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On April 29, Mr. Eby characterized the woman’s remarks about the attack, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, mostly civilians, as “the most hateful” he could fathom.
