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Suspect arrested after girl, 12, assaulted in alleged hate-motivated incident on TTC bus

TTC bus assault suspect — Suspect arrested in connection with an alleged hate-motivated assault on board a TTC bus in the city's east end on Feb. 8, 2023. HANDOUT/Toronto Police Service

By Patricia D'Cunha

Posted February 21, 2023 9:37 am.

Last Updated February 21, 2023 8:49 pm.

Toronto police arrested a man in connection with a suspected hate-motivated assault on a 12-year-old girl travelling on a TTC bus in early February.

The alleged incident happened near the Main Street subway station around 4:15 p.m. on Feb. 8.

Police say the girl was riding the 23 Dawes bus in the area of Danforth Avenue and Main Street when a man threatened her and other passengers on the bus. He then allegedly assaulted the girl while making racial slurs.

The suspect then got off the bus and fled the scene before police arrived.

The 12-year-old girl suffered minor injuries.

Police arrested Matthew Gordon Paul, of Toronto, on Monday and charged him with Threaten Bodily Harm, Assault, and Fail to Comply with Probation.

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