Charges laid after Jewish people threatened, poster defaced in Vancouver

Vancouver police say hate-crime-related charges have been laid against a man accused of threatening a group of Jewish people last year.

The VPD says it launched an investigation in October after it received reports that anti-Semitic words and an anti-Semitic symbol were drawn on a poster of Israeli hostages in the area of Main Street and King Edward Avenue.

According to witnesses, police say a suspect also used “anti-Semitic and threatening language” toward a group of people.

Charges were approved in February of this year, with police saying a warrant was issued for a 33-year-old man, who turned himself in on March 7.

Mircea Iulian Pripoae is now charged with willful promotion of hatred against an identifiable group and uttering threats. He is bound by conditions until his next court appearance, later this month.

The VPD’s Const. Tania Visintin says police have seen a rise in hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim communities since the war between Israel and Hamas started in October 2023.

“We support everyone’s right to express themselves freely — everyone has that right, but we want them to be doing that peacefully and lawfully,” she said.

“We won’t tolerate any actions or behaviour that promotes hatred and we’re hoping that this sends a clear message to anyone who does want to protest or express themselves in a way that’s not peaceful and not respectful and definitely not within the law.”

-With files from Srushti Gangdev