Charges laid following alleged assault on journalist at anti-M-103 rally

Police have charged one man and are hoping to identifyanother suspect in connection with theassault of a journalistin Toronto last month at a rally againstM-103 a parliamentary motion condemning Islamophobia, religious discrimination andracism.

According to Const. Jenifferjit Sidhuwith Toronto Police,a 22-year-old Richmond Hill man turned himself in to police on Tuesdayand has been charged with assault.

Officers are still looking for another person involved in the attack.

KevinMetcalf, a promotions and communications coordinator forCanadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE),was filming at a demonstration on May 6in Nathan Phillips Square, when he says he was greeted by name by opponents ofM-103, clad in body armour and paramilitary-style fatigues.

• VIDEO: Alleged assault of journalist atanti-M-103rally sparks concerns about police response

Metcalfsaid they physically assaulted him and threatened him with death.

"We're not f--king around here. You're going to get killed," one person is heard saying in video footage ofthe incident.

CJFE employee Kevin Metcalf allegedly attacked at anti-M-103 rally in Toronto

7 years ago

Duration 2:12

Kevin Metcalf, a promotions and communications coordinator for the organization, was filming at a demonstration on May 6th in Nathan Phillips Square, when he was greeted by name by opponents of M-103, clad in body armor and paramilitary-style fatigues, physically assaulted and threatened with death.

M-103was tabledin the House of Commons in December 2016 by MP Iqra Khalid to "condemn Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination." The House of Commons passed the non-binding motion in March by a vote of 201-97.

• Anti-Islamophobia motion brings out hundreds for protest, counter-protest

Those opposed to the motion have said it is a threat to free speech, and have held demonstrations in cities across the country, including on Saturday, to voice their concern.

In Toronto, demonstrators on both sides have faced off in the square in front of city hall on the first Saturday of every month for the past five months.