'An insult to both the living and the dead': Jewish cemetery vandalized in Winnipeg
A Jewish community in Winnipeg is looking for justice after dozens of headstones were toppled in its cemetery.
Ran Ukashi, the executive director of the Congregation Shaarey Zedek, told CTV News cemetery staff arrived Wednesday morning to find about 70 headstones had been knocked over.
He said the vandalism was immediately reported to police and headstones have since been reset. He said there doesn't appear to be significant damage to the head stones, based on a preliminary examination.
"The sort of greater injury has to do with the fact that it was a desecration of a very sacred space for the Jewish community and also for the broader community, and an insult to both the living and the dead in the way that was desecrated," Ukashi said.
He said the community is now looking for answers as to why the cemetery was vandalized.
"The first sort of impulse in the Jewish community is was this a form of anti-Jewish prejudice, was it anti-Semitic motivation, or was it mere mischief," he said. "We don't know, regardless we hope that they apprehend whoever is behind this and we can learn more about the motivations after the fact."
The Winnipeg Police Service confirmed it is aware of the incident and is investigating. Ukashi is asking anyone in the area who may have seen something or has any information about the vandalism to contact the police or the synagogue.
-with files from CTV's Jon Hendricks
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Donald Trump picks former U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra as ambassador to Canada
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has nominated former diplomat and U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra to be the American ambassador to Canada.
Genetic evidence backs up COVID-19 origin theory that pandemic started in seafood market
A group of researchers say they have more evidence to suggest the COVID-19 pandemic started in a Chinese seafood market where it spread from infected animals to humans. The evidence is laid out in a recent study published in Cell, a scientific journal, nearly five years after the first known COVID-19 outbreak.
This is how much money you need to make to buy a house in Canada's largest cities
The average salary needed to buy a home keeps inching down in cities across Canada, according to the latest data.
'My two daughters were sleeping': London Ont. family in shock after their home riddled with gunfire
A London father and son they’re shocked and confused after their home was riddled with bullets while young children were sleeping inside.
Smuggler arrested with 300 tarantulas strapped to his body
Police in Peru have arrested a man caught trying to leave the country with 320 tarantulas, 110 centipedes and nine bullet ants strapped to his body.
Boissonnault out of cabinet to 'focus on clearing the allegations,' Trudeau announces
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced embattled minister Randy Boissonnault is out of cabinet.
Baby dies after being reported missing in midtown Toronto: police
A four-month-old baby is dead after what Toronto police are calling a “suspicious incident” at a Toronto Community Housing building in the city’s midtown area on Wednesday afternoon.
Sask. woman who refused to provide breath sample did not break the law, court finds
A Saskatchewan woman who refused to provide a breath sample after being stopped by police in Regina did not break the law – as the officer's request was deemed not lawful given the circumstances.
Parole board reverses decision and will allow families of Paul Bernardo's victims to attend upcoming parole hearing in person
The families of the victims of Paul Bernardo will be allowed to attend the serial killer’s upcoming parole hearing in person, the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) says.