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A Winnipeg cafe owner and her family were initially described as victims of a hate-driven attack after the cafe was trashed, robbed, and covered with anti-Semitic graffiti, and the owners alleged they were assaulted. Police later said the incident was staged and charged Oksana Behrendt, Maxim Behrendt, and Alexander Behrendt with public mischief. The family maintains their story, insisting they were attacked and targeted, while the community expresses shock and concern about the implications for real hate crimes. The cafe is still up for sale, and planned interfaith events and crowdfunding for the family were canceled or removed amid backlash and confusion. Police say evidence pointed to a crime, but not a hate crime, and court records show lawsuits against the family for debts; the family denies staging the incident for financial gain. Community responses included fear of undermining genuine anti-Semitic incidents and anger at what some call a betrayal of the community and police.
In Canada, hate-crime data for 2017 showed police-recorded hate incidents reaching an all-time high, with nearly 2,100 incidents (up 47% from the previous year). Attacks against Jewish people accounted for about 18% of hate crimes, with Muslim-targeted incidents close behind.
International updates included a suspect in bomb threats against Jewish communities worldwide: an 18-year-old American-Israeli was identified by Israeli police as the main suspect, with threats spanning New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. Authorities noted the suspect used Internet-based calling to mask location, and a medical condition was mentioned by the suspect’s lawyer; the suspect was to undergo a medical exam. Separate reporting indicated Israeli police suspected the teen also behind a 2015 threat that led Delta Airlines to divert a flight, and searches included seizures of computer equipment.
In North York, a 67-year-old man, Avram Babrovsky, was arrested on arson charges after allegedly setting fire to a synagogue, with investigations ongoing and police seeking more information from the public. In Schenectady, New York, a homeowner, Andrew King, was charged with falsely reporting an incident after painting swastikas on his own home, claiming it was targeted due to his yarmulke.
West Bloomfield, Michigan, reported a case where a man, Terren Samit, allegedly fabricated a stabbing at a synagogue. Police credited technology, including Apple Watch data, with helping expose the hoax; Samit faced charges for filing a false police report. Community leaders emphasized not tolerating antisemitism or exploiting police resources, while acknowledging concerns about any impact on genuine victims.
In Brooklyn and Manhattan, 56-year-old David Haddad—who is Jewish—was arrested for harassment as a hate crime after distributing antisemitic messages in Brooklyn and Manhattan, and being implicated in related swastika incidents and threats.
At George Washington University, a student was found to have painted swastikas on her door herself. The university used hidden cameras and interviews, concluding the student was the apparent victim-dresser, leading to student judicial action and potential criminal charges, with a noted aim of providing help rather than punishment.
On Vancouver campuses, a defamation suit was filed by UBC Social Justice Centre against HillelBC over iHeartHammas stickers distributed during a Palestine walkout. HillelBC stated it had terminated its contract with the distributor; UBC and the SJC described harm and a broader concern for safe spaces on campus. The RCMP concluded the Vancouver incident with no charges.
In Amsterdam, the mayor walked back her use of the word pogrom after backlash over its political usage, as broader tensions rose with Mor occan-born finance minister resignation following controversial remarks by a right-wing leader. Separately, a viral claim circulated claiming Muslims hunted Jews in Amsterdam; fact-checkers confirmed the video actually showed Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters attacking a Dutch man, not a Jews-hunting mob. Miscaptioned footage prompted corrections from outlets including CNN, BBC, The Guardian, and The New York Times, with the photographer clarifying the true context.