2 men charged during Toronto Al-Quds Day rally; Toronto man nabbed in firearms probe
· Toronto Sun
Two Toronto men were arrested during the Al-Quds Day rally in Toronto on Saturday.
Toronto Police said the demonstration in the University Ave.-Armoury St. area also included counter-demonstrators.
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Cops said the men were arrested during two unrelated incidents.
In one incident, police alleged that the accused, who was participating in the counter-demonstration, engaged with the victim, a participant in the Al-Quds demonstration, who was holding a stick with the Islamic Republic of Iran flag attached.
Cops said the accused allegedly began swinging his arms and fists at the victim, breaking the stick and “causing pieces of it to strike the victim in the head.”
Farshid McVandifar, 56, was arrested and charged with mischief – damage property under $5,000, and assault.
In another incident, police alleged that a male participating in the counter-demonstration followed the victim, a participant of the Al-Quds demonstration who was wearing an Islamic Republic of Iran flag on their back. Cops said the accused allegedly spat on the victim and ripped the flag off their back.
The accused returned into the crowd and was later located among the counter-demonstration group.
Cops said the accused was then seen to be lighting an Islamic Republic of Iran flag on fire and wearing Islamic Republic of Iran flags attached to the soles of his shoes.
Mostafa Shabanian Bashmandoost, 39, was arrested and charged with assault, criminal harassment, theft under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 and public incitement of hatred.
These investigations are being treated as suspected hate-motivated offences.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3500, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at 222tips.com .
Toronto man charged in firearms probe
A 29-year-old Toronto man is facing a slew of firearms charges following a person-with-a-gun-call.
Toronto Police said officers responded on Friday around 1:55 p.m. to the Warden Ave.-Ellesmere Rd. area.
Cops alleged that a male suspect pointed a firearm at two victims and fled in a vehicle, which was later found abandoned in the area.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a quantity of 9 mm cartridges.
An investigation conducted by 41 Division’s major crime unit and primary response unit led to information that the male was in Pickering. With the help of Durham Regional Police, the male was arrested at an address in Pickering.
It’s further alleged that, at the time of the arrest, two firearms were located and seized by officers. One of the firearms had an extended magazine containing 27 cartridges (9 mm).
Two search warrants were executed in relation to a residence and the abandoned vehicle.
Police said a third firearm was found and seized.
Olivier Brunot-Nsoga was charged with two counts each of uttering threats/death or bodily harm, point firearm, assault with a weapon, and possession of a weapon, and three counts each of possess firearm without holding a licence and use/handle/store firearm etc. carelessly, along with two counts of possess firearm other than restricted or prohibited firearm knowingly not holding a licence, and possess prohibited/restricted weapon or prohibited device knowing no authority, and three counts of fail to comply with release order/not fail to attend court.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-4100, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at 222tips.com .