Syed Raza, accused of recent arson, allegedly poured an unknown substance on a person at a Toronto Metropolitan University demonstration last October
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A 29-year-old Toronto man has been charged with arson and three other offences after Israeli flags were removed outside a church at Sunrise Avenue and O’Connor Dr. area and set on fire on Oct. 7.
Toronto Police said the incident happened shortly after 1 a.m. and the suspect, who was also charged on Oct. 7, 2025, fled the scene afterwards.
Syed Raza was arrested and charged with arson, mischief under $5,000, mischief interfere with the lawful enjoyment of property and disobey lawful order of court.
The accused was identified by investigators at 4:06 p.m. on Saturday while at a demonstration in the Dundas St. E.-Yonge St. area.
“This was not a protest. It was an act of intimidation, aimed at the Jewish community and it seems, Christian residents right here in Toronto and at a place of worship. Fire and hate, together, on a residential street before dawn. That’s meant to frighten people, and everyone in this city should say plainly that it has no place here,” Toronto City Councillor and mayoral candidate Brad Bradford posted on X at the time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3505, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or 222tips.com.
Raza previously charged with another crime on Oct. 7, 2025
Toronto cops confirmed to the Sun that Raza is the same man charged last year for allegedly pouring an unknown substance on a person at a Toronto Metropolitan University demonstration on Oct. 7, 2025.
Investigators say the suspect and alleged victim were both at the same demonstration at TMU when the suspect “approached the victim without provocation and poured an unknown substance on them.”
The suspect fled the scene and no serious injuries were reported.
A few days later, on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, officers spotted the suspect at a separate demonstration taking place in the Overlea Blvd.-Don Mills Rd. area.
Officers arrested Raza, then 28, and he was facing a single count of assault with a weapon.
The third anniversary of Oct. 7 — the date of the coordinated Hamas-led surprise attacks on Israel that led to at least 1,200 people being killed, over 5,500 people wounded and 251 people abducted — was marked a week ago with moments of silence, candle-lightings, and memorials.
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