Toronto police have arrested two individuals alleging they wore medical masks to conceal their identity while taking part in anti-Israel demonstrations preventing employees from entering their places of work.
According to a Toronto Police Services news release, police arrested 38-year-old Faisal Ibrahim on Friday, alleging he and other demonstrators entered a private business in the Eglinton Avenue East and Yonge Street area in March and prevented workers from entering the business while wearing a medical mask to conceal their identities.
Police said an employee left the area out of fear for her safety.
Ibrahim faces charges of mischief, interference of property and disguising himself with intent to do so.
He is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on Wednesday Dec. 11, 2024.
Also, in connection with the same demonstration, police arrested 38-year-old Rachelle Friesen at the end of September, who was accused of participating with Ibrahim.
According to a TPS media release, Friesen is also accused of entering a Scotia Bank Award ceremony to interrupt the event at the Four Seasons Hotel on Nov. 13, 2023, in the Yorkville Avenue and Bay Street area.
Police allege she and other demonstrators accessed the private event using forged documents. The demonstrators jumped on the stage, interrupting the awards, before being escorted off-premise.
The Anti-Israel Boycott Divest Sanctions movement lists Scotia Bank as a contributor to the state of Israel. Along with Scotia Bank the BDS list includes Starbucks, a business in Eglington Avenue East and Young Street that connected the two suspects.
Friesen has written for the left-wing activist group Community Peacekeepers Team and the group has condemned the arrest of Friesen, whom they said was arrested while trying to leave the country on Sept. 30, 2024.
Police charged Friesen with two counts of alleged mischief to obstruct, interrupt, or interfere with the lawful use, enjoyment, or operation of the property and one count of allegedly disguising herself with intent to commit one of those acts.
Friesen appeared in bail court at the Ontario Court of Justice on Oct. 1, though the OCJ did not respond to True North’s request to learn if she had been granted bail.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw noted the arrest when he announced an increase in security for Jewish neighbourhoods and a hard approach against protestors ahead of the one-year marking of Oct. 7.
CPT said statements made by Demkiw were “defamatory,” claiming he made it sound as if Friesen was fleeing the country when they said she was just visiting a colleague in the US.
In light of the two arrests, Demkiw posted on X to remind Torontonians that arrests could happen after committing an offence.
“While demonstrations may end, investigations into criminal activity continue and we pursue all leads to hold individuals accountable,” he said. “Over the last year we have made 80 demonstration-related arrests and laid 124 charges. Arrests can happen at any time after an offence.”
Police are asking anyone with information about the two incidents to contact police at 416-808-3500, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.
