Man wanted in connection with hate-motivated attack against woman

Toronto police are looking to identify a suspect wanted in connection with a hate-motivated attack aboard the TTC a week ago.

Police say a woman was riding the subway southbound from Vaughan Metropolitan station on March 9 when she was approached by a man around 5 p.m.

The man became agitated during a conversation with the woman and produced a knife.

The woman fled the train as it arrived at Wilson station.

The man is described as being between 50 and 60 years old with a thin build and a long white beard. He was last seen wearing layered clothing including a black hoodie, dark baseball cap, black leather jacket, green military-style pants and carrying a green backpack. He is believed to be armed and dangerous, according to police.

“Investigators believe the victim was targeted because of her Muslim faith,” police said in a statement.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims said the man was asking the woman “hypothetical questions” about Muslims and Islam before he threatened her with a large knife which he pulled from his backpack.

“This is not the first time we have seen an Islamophobic attack on a Muslim woman who wears a hijab on public transit,” said NCCM COO Nadia Hasan. “There is a problem in this country where spaces that most Canadians take for granted simply aren’t safe for Muslim women and people of colour.”

1/3. Last week, a young #Muslim woman had a knife pulled on her in the #Toronto subway.

A man approached her and peppered her with questions about her religion. Then pulled out a large knife. She ran for her life and escaped. pic.twitter.com/LxyItpqOyv

— NCCM (@nccm) March 13, 2023