A man from the community of Dundurn is facing mischief charges in connection to the egging of a Saskatoon synagogue. The Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) says through an investigation and help from the public, the suspect in the Aug. 4 incident was identified as a 31-year-old from Dundurn. Arrangements were made for the suspect to turn himself in, which happened on Aug. 13, according to police. He has been charged with three counts of mischief under $5,000 and was later released on conditions. The incident saw eggs thrown at both the Congregation Agudas Israel synagogue and vehicles in its parking lot during the congregation’s Shabbat prayer service. “As a police service, we recognize the significance of incidents that target faith-based communities and the impact on their sense of safety and belonging,” Supt. James Oliver said in a statement Friday. “... In Canada, ‘hate crime’ is generally used as an umbrella term, not a specific charge under the Criminal Code. Any evidence that an offence was motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate is considered by the court as an aggravating factor during sentencing.” In 2002 the synagogue had a Molotov cocktail thrown through a window. Robert Englebert, the co-president of Congregation Agudas Israel, says the synagogue has hired security for holy days in the past, and will review security policies in place. With files from Keenan Sorokan
