Toronto Police say three youths have been charged in a hate-motivated assault in which a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community was “violently attacked.”
The incident occurred shortly before 1 p.m. on Nov. 8 in the area of Yonge and Wellesley streets, near the city’s gay village.
According to police, the victim became concerned with the treatment of a group of young women and intervened to check on their well-being.
“A verbal interaction ensued between the suspects and the victim at which time the victim was violently attacked by three suspects,” police said in a statement.
The victim sustained serious injuries in the assault.
Speaking with CP24 on Friday, Sgt. Rob Chevalier said that police are treating the incident as a suspected- hate-motivated offence because of what was said during the alleged assault of the woman.
“She is a trans woman and she feels and we feel that this is apart of why she was attacked and the way she was attacked,” he said.
Police said Friday the two 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old have now been charged with assault causing bodily harm.
The suspects cannot be named under the terms of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. They are set to make a court appearance on Jan. 10.
Police are urging anyone with further information to contact investigators.
