River Heights home shot at in suspected hate-motivated crime, Winnipeg police say

Winnipeg police believe a recent shooting at a River Heights home may have been acrime driven by hate,as they say they're grappling with an escalation in hate-motivated crime in the city since the beginning of October.

Residents at the River Heights home heard a window smash around 4:30 a.m. Sundayand soon realized it had been shot out, Winnipeg police said at a news conference Thursday.

No injuries were reported.

WATCH:|Winnipeg police investigate hate-motivated crimes, call for an end to Israel-Palestine counter-protests:

Winnipeg police investigate hate crimes, call for an end to Israel-Palestine counter-protests

10 months ago

Duration 2:26

As they investigate 11 suspected hate crimes related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Winnipeg police are asking protesters on each side to avoid squaring off in counter-protests, which they say escalate tension and eat up a lot of police resources.

The home had a visible religious symbol near the front door, and the incident is being investigated as a hate-motivated crime.

Over the last month, Winnipeg police have seen an escalation in suspected hate-motivated crimes as the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamashas led to tensions at home, police officials said during Thursday's news conference.

Const. Jason Michalyshen said there has been a number of incidents since the beginning of October, rangingfrom graffiti and homes being egged to the River Heights shooting.

On Oct. 12, police responded to areport of religious item that had been vandalized in a parking lot on Harrow Street, he said.

The following day, there was a separate report of vandalism to a shed and a place of worshipin the River Heights area.

There have also been multiple racially motivated social media posts reported to police, Michalyshen said.

"So I think it's the escalationthat we're truly acknowledging here, andthe seriousness of it," he said.

"We want to provide the public with the reassurance that officers are attending these matters."

Counter-protests discouraged

Amidgrowing tensions following the latest outbreak of violence between Hamas and Israel, and several rallies and counter-protests held by pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups, police are also asking people to avoid holding counter-protests at demonstrations.

Officers had to intervene several times in recent weeks when people with opposing views have faced off.

"We live in Canada, everyone has a right to protest, but we still have to be lawful, we have to follow the laws of the land," said Ramsey Zeid,president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba. "We don't want to see anyone get hurt, whenever somebody gets hurt or there's any type of hate, we lose the message we're trying to get across."

Ron East, the founder of the Israeli Canadian Council, said he'd like to work with Zeid to identify things of concern from both communities when protests occur.

"If he sees something on social media that is of concern to his community, I'd like him to bring it to our attention, I'd like to take care of it immediately," he said. "And same thing on our end, if we see something that is a concern to us, I want tobe able to bring it up to their side so things can just be taken care of immediately."

Last weekend saw several rallies and protests, each of which had a counter-protest organized, said Supt. DaveDalal.

Police are investigating oneincident where rocks were thrown at police and protesters, he said.

"This trend is very concerning given the volatile nature of crowds, so we're asking for everybody's co-operation to contribute to peace in our community."

Dalalsaidpolice aren't telling people they can't protestbut are asking thosewith opposing viewsto keep their distance from each other, as having to put a wall of officers between two sides takes up valuable police resources.

"These events require a much larger police presence in order to keep people safe, and they do create harmful situations and amplify emotions," he said.

"They cause increased tension between the parties, and we've seen acts of violence and mischief at these events already."

Dalal says police have been in touch with protest organizers, but he says he wants to get the message out more broadly.

Mayor calls for peace

Mayor Scott Gillingham also addressed the impact the demonstrations have had in Winnipeg, saying theconflict between Israel and Hamas has led toan alarming rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic behaviour and rhetoric in the city.

"We can't have protests and rallies that turn into physical confrontations," he told reporters following a city council meeting Thursday.

"[There's] just no room in this city at all for expressions of hate and for expressions of antisemitism or anti-Islamic expressions."

Gillinghamsaid he understands that emotions are raw, but called for civility.

"We're working to build a city that pursues peace and freedom and understanding, and as difficult as it may be, we have to continue to pursue that in Winnipeg."