4 ‘hate-motivated’ attacks target victims in 2 GTA cities; Mississauga man charged

A Mississauga man faces charges in connection with a police investigation into at least four alleged hate-motivated assaults in Vaughan and Markham.

Investigators with the York Regional Police hate crime unit looking into the attacks, which took place between June 9 and July 2, arrested a suspect this past Friday.

In the first incident, a man approached the victim at around 8:45 p.m. on June 9 in the area of Major Mackenzie Drive West and Amusement Drive in Vaughan. Police said he made a racial comment, assaulted the victim and then fled the area on foot.

Two days later, on June 11 shortly before 3 p.m., the same culprit is believed to have approached and assaulted a second victim in the area of Weston Road and Starling Boulevard, also in Vaughan.

Again, a racial comment accompanied the attack, police said in a news release on Tuesday, adding the man quickly left the area on foot.

Investigators determined the same attacker was also allegedly responsible for two additional hate-motivated assaults — on June 18 near Bass Pro Mills Drive and Fishermens Way in Vaughan and on July 2 in the area of McCowan Road and Southdale Drive in Markham.

Police made an arrest on July 10.

Fardin Sajid, 27, of Mississauga. (Photo: York Regional Police)

Fardin Sajid, 27, of Mississauga, is charged with:

• Assault — four counts
• Mischief under $5,000
• Breach of probation — eight counts

At the time of the incidents, the accused was on probation for unrelated offences, police said.

Investigators believe there may be additional victims and are encouraging them to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6552, or email [email protected]. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.