WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg police hate crimes unit is investigating a spree of swastika graffiti on buildings and garbage bins in the city’s St. Boniface area.

There were two separate reports of the swastika graffiti, said B’nai Brith Canada spokesperson Maria-Fernanda Medina. The first report came in at the end of July and the second on Aug. 4.

Medina said that one of the defaced buildings was an arena in St. Boniface, which was daubed with seven swastikas. The six other swastikas were applied largely to garbage bins.

St. Boniface is an older, largely French-speaking area located across the Red River from downtown. Other than a few Jewish storekeepers in years past, the area has no Jewish presence or connections.

In a press release, B’nai Brith Canada CEO Frank Dimant said, “Hatred and intolerance have reared their ugly heads once again. Defacing public property with Nazi symbols is more than just hurtful to the Jewish community, it is an affront to the millions of people, Jewish and not, who suffered under the Nazi regime as well as Canadians who lost their lives to defeat it.” 

“This latest spree is especially troubling for what the future holds, as our annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents continues to show increases year after year. These types of incidents must be labeled as a hate crime and treated with all due seriousness.”

Medina said the swastikas have been removed by the city and that police continue to monitor the area.