Police Seek Suspect in Hate-Motivated Assault on Scarborough Bus
Police report that the man made several derogatory and anti-Muslim comments toward the victim before physically assaulting her.
Toronto police have released surveillance images and are seeking public assistance to identify a suspect in connection with a suspected hate-motivated assault on a public transit bus earlier this week.
The incident occurred on Monday, April 13, 2026, in the area of Progress Avenue and Milner Avenue.
According to investigators, a man approached a woman while they were traveling on a Durham Region Transit bus.
Police report that the man made several derogatory and anti-Muslim comments toward the victim before physically assaulting her.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), which has been in contact with the victim, released a brief video of the encounter on social media.
The footage appears to show a man yelling profanities and using the word "terror" before lunging and kicking at the woman.
During the confrontation, another passenger, also wearing a hijab, can be heard intervening and telling the man to respect others or leave the bus.
The victim sustained minor physical injuries in the attack.
The suspect exited the bus shortly after the incident. Police have confirmed that the suspect and the victim were not known to each other.
Suspect Description
Toronto Police describe the suspect as:
- Age: 30 to 40 years old
- Build: Heavy build
- Clothing: Last seen wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, and a camouflage baseball hat featuring a "Canada" logo.
The investigation is currently being led by the Toronto Police Service Hate Crime Unit.
Under the Criminal Code of Canada, if a person is convicted of an offense that is proven to be motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate based on religion, race, or other protected factors, the court can consider that motivation as an aggravating factor during sentencing.
The NCCM has condemned the attack, calling for a strong response from all levels of government to address rising incidents of Islamophobia. "We cannot afford to wait until an incident like this turns to murder yet again," the organization stated in a social media post.
Durham Region Transit officials also released a statement confirming they are fully cooperating with the Toronto Police investigation and emphasized their commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all passengers.
Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect or the incident is urged to contact the Toronto Police Service at 416-808-3506.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.222tips.com.