The Waterloo Regional Police Service is investigating a hate-motivated assault that occurred in Waterloo early on the morning of April 5, 2026. A verbal argument between one victim and a group of approximately six unknown males turned violent at a business near King Street North and Columbia Street East at about 2:35 a.m.
The victim, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, was targeted with racial slurs during the attack. The group of suspects left the area in two vehicles, described by police as a black Acura SUV and a white Honda Civic, before officers arrived on the scene.
This assault was the second hate-motivated incident reported in the area over the weekend. Earlier that same morning, at approximately 1:45 a.m., police arrested a 19-year-old woman from Guelph following a separate incident involving property damage and racial slurs at a business on King Street North.
These incidents follow recent reports to the Waterloo Regional Police Service board regarding hate-motivated crime in the community. Data from last year shows that there were 224 reported hate-motivated crimes in the region, a five per cent decrease from 2024. Despite this slight decline, local statistics indicate that Black and Jewish residents remain the most frequently targeted groups.
Waterloo Region has previously recorded the highest rate of police-reported hate crimes in Canada, with 34 incidents per 100,000 people documented in 2023.
Investigators are asking anyone with information regarding the April 5 assault to contact the police at 519-570-9777. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
