The Toronto Police Service is updating the public about an arrest made in a Hate-Motivated Assault with a Weapon investigation. 

On Saturday, August 29,  police attended a call for a Person with a Knife in the Queens Quay West and Lower Spadina Avenue area. 

It is alleged that the suspect approached two people during an unprovoked interaction, the suspect made anti-Sikh utterances and racial slurs, the suspect attacked the victims with a weapon and one victim was stabbed in the leg and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. 

Through the investigation, it was determined that the accused was involved in a separate incident approximately one hour earlier in the Union Station area.

It is further alleged that: the suspect approached a person during an unprovoked interaction, the suspect made anti-Sikh utterances and racial slurs, the suspect brandished a knife, and proceeded to waive it at the victim while repeating the anti-Sikh utterances and racial slurs, the victim was not injured. 

On Tuesday, September 1, 2026, Lakshitha Arakmullage, 32, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with offence Motivated by Hatred (Assault Causing Bodily Harm), five counts of Offence Motivated by Hatred (Assault with Weapon), two counts of Carry Concealed Weapon and two counts of Possession of Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose. 

He is scheduled to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on Friday, September 4,  at 9:30 a.m.

This investigation is being treated as a hate-motivated offence.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3505.

When suspected hate-motivated offences are reported to police, the investigation is led by the Hate Crime Unit (HCU).

If it is alleged a criminal offence was committed (such as assault or mischief) and it is believed to have been motivated by bias, prejudice or hate, the officer-in-charge may consult with the Crown. If a person is charged and convicted of the offence, the Judge will take into consideration hate as an aggravating factor when imposing a sentence.

Wilful promotion of hatred and advocating genocide are hate propaganda (hate speech) offences which require the Attorney General’s consent to lay charges. These charges are often laid at a later time.