Student charged for ‘hateful and threatening’ social media post at U of T Mississauga campus
Posted October 16, 2023 5:12 pm.
Last Updated October 16, 2023 5:17 pm.
A University of Toronto Mississauga student was arrested and charged for allegedly sharing hateful and threatening messages on social media.
Alexandra Gillespie, the university’s principal and vice president, shared a community update on Sunday night regarding the online messages. She said security at the U of T Mississauga (UTM) campus responded to the posts and quickly notified Peel Regional Police.
“A UTM student has now been arrested and charged by Peel Regional Police. The accused has since been released with conditions not to attend any U of T campus and is prohibited from attending any U of T property through a trespass notice,” Gillespie wrote.
A police spokesperson confirmed that the threatening and hateful online messages were shared on Saturday, October 14. Officers attended the Mississauga campus that same day, and no injuries were reported.
A 19-year-old student from Halton Region was charged with uttering threats to cause death. He’s expected to appear in court at a later date. He wasn’t identified by investigators.
Gillespie said the university has “comprehensive safety plans in place, and you will notice an increased security presence on campus to ensure the safety of our community.”
“Antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, hate, and discrimination of any kind have no place on our campus,” Gillespie wrote.
“We all play a role in keeping our campus a safe and welcoming place, and we encourage anyone who is made aware of concerning behaviours or messages to immediately contact Campus Safety and/or Peel Regional Police.”
