Man charged after East York church targeted three times in one week
Khaliq Hussain Anwar, 56, faces three counts of mischief after a church near Cosburn and Pape was struck by rocks on July 24, July 31, and August 1.
Sources · local media reports
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A 56-year-old Toronto man has been charged with three counts of mischief relating to religious property after a church in East York was targeted by rock-throwing attacks three times in just over a week.
Toronto police responded to the church near Cosburn Avenue and Pape Avenue on July 24 after a rock was thrown through a window. Investigators were called to the same location a week later for a similar incident. On August 1, police officers in the area observed a man throwing a rock through a window of the same church.
Khaliq Hussain Anwar, 56, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with the three counts. Police say if he is convicted of a criminal offence motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate, the judge in the case can take hate as an aggravating factor when imposing sentence.
The source does not specify whether the incidents have been formally classified as hate-motivated or what specific damage resulted from the rock-throwing attacks.
At a glance
Where was the church targeted?
The church is located near Cosburn Avenue and Pape Avenue in East York.
When did the rock-throwing attacks occur?
The attacks on the church near Cosburn and Pape happened on July 24, July 31, and August 1, 2026.
Who was charged?
Khaliq Hussain Anwar, 56, of Toronto was arrested and charged with three counts of mischief relating to religious property.
