Halifax police seeking man who yelled racial slurs, threats at family in Costco

Halifax police seeking man who yelled racial slurs, threats at family in Costco

Police say hate is believed to be a motivating factor

Police seek to ID suspect in Halifax Costco incident

Halifax Regional Police are asking the public for help to identify a man who yelled racially offensive language at a family shopping at a Halifax Costco.

The man then approached another customer and assaulted him, police said in a news release Tuesday. Police said hate is believed to be a motivating factor in the attack.

Police said the incident occurred on July 4 around 1 p.m. AT at the Bayers Lake Costco. A video of the incident has been widely seen on social media.

In it, the man appears to follow two women in hijabs telling them to "get the f--k out of the country."

The man is then approached by a third woman who tells him to leave the store and shut his mouth. The man then asks the third woman if she "owns Nova Scotia" because if not, she could go with them.

After that, the man becomes aware of the person recording the video and appears to strike them. The video goes dark.

Someone then tells the man they're going to make a complaint. The man goes on to say "we're killing every f--king one of you." Then the man uses several racial slurs and repeats "we're killin' every f--king one of you."

He then says "you can f--king leave or you can f--king put up with it 'cause you're all f--king dying."

The Halifax Regional Police hate crime unit is also involved with the investigation.

CBC News contacted Costco for comment about the incident, but has not yet received a response.

In a social media post, the National Council of Canadian Muslims said "no one should face hate or fear while simply grocery shopping with their family."

"We are deeply disturbed by the racist and Islamophobic attack targeting hijabi Muslim women, as well as the physical assault and hateful slurs directed at a Muslim man at Halifax Costco this past weekend. "

Ali Duale, operations manager of the Ummah Masjid and Community Centre and a former Liberal MLA for the area, said the video was heartbreaking.

"To see a family enjoying their daily life as any other Haligonian going to the grocery store and be called out because of wearing a piece of cloth on her hair … that's horrible and that's unacceptable," he told CBC News.

Duale said it's becoming more common for Muslims to face harassment and sometimes violence.

"This is pure Muslim hate," he said.

Imam Mahmoud Omar with the Ummah Mosque said the wants to thank the people at Costco who stood up to the man. He said he welcomes anyone into his mosque because Nova Scotia welcomed him and he knows most Nova Scotians don't feel the same as that man.

"At the same time, we feel sorry for him. Like, you know what pushed him to do that is completely misinformed. So I want to as well extend that invitation, come to our mosque and ask ... come and ask whatever you want," Omar said.

Federal Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab is the MP for the riding of Halifax West where the Costco is located.

"Like many of you, I have seen a disturbing clip circulating on social media of an Islamophobic incident at a store in our community," she said in a statement Tuesday.

"I know many of you are shaken, but I want you to know that your friends, neighbours and community stand beside you in condemning this deplorable act of hatred."

More stories from Halifax Regional Municipality

Police said anyone with information on the suspect's identity or anyone who was targeted by the suspect during the incident can reach out at 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be shared through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

"Crimes and incidents motivated by hate are taken very seriously. If someone finds themselves exposed to behaviour that is offensive, threatening or intimidating, they are encouraged to report it to police," Halifax police said in the release.

"Even if an investigation does not find criminal wrongdoing, it is important to have it on record."

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With files from Josh Hoffman and Celina Aalders