HRP release:

Halifax Regional Police is investigating an incident of assault where hate is believed to be a motivating factor.

Yesterday police received a report of an assault that occurred on a Halifax Transit bus (route 90) earlier that day. At approximately 10:40 a.m. a man boarded the bus in the area of 150 Bedford Highway and began to say racial slurs towards two women who were also on the bus. The man then threatened and assaulted one of the women. The man exited the bus in downtown Halifax and left the area on foot.

The man is described as white, approximately 5’ tall and bald. The man was wearing a t-shirt, jeans, a jacket, black framed glasses and had a cane.

Investigators, along with members of the Hate Crime Unit of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division, are asking anyone with information or video from this incident to call police at 902-490-5020.  Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or using the P3 Tips App.

We recognize that incidents of this nature can be very harmful to our community. We take incidents that are believed to be motivated by hate towards an identifiable group very seriously. If someone finds themselves exposed to behavior that is offensive, threatening or intimidating, we encourage them to report it to police to investigate so we can determine if criminal offences have occurred. Even if the investigation does not find criminal wrongdoing in that specific incident, it is important to have it on record.

More information on hate crime and hate incidents is available on our website.