Canadian Woman, 29, Arrested Over Hate-Motivated Graffiti Targeting Indians In Subway

Last Updated:January 24, 2026, 17:05 IST

Megan Elsley, 29, was arrested by Toronto Police Service for anti-Indian graffiti at Toronto subway stations, treated as hate-motivated mischief.

Megan Elsley, 29, was arrested by Toronto Police Service for anti-Indian graffiti at Toronto subway stations, treated as hate-motivated mischief. (Image: X)

A 29-year-old Toronto woman has been arrested and charged in connection with a series of anti-Indian graffiti incidents across the city’s subway system, police said on Friday.

In a release, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) said Megan Elsley, a Toronto resident, was taken into custody following a hate-motivated mischief investigation.

According to police, between July 3 and December 21 last year, officers responded to multiple reports of graffiti at various stations operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Investigators allege the suspect attended several stations and vandalised property by writing anti-Indian messages inside stations and on subway cars.

On January 20, detectives executed a search warrant at a Toronto residence, leading to Elsley’s arrest. She has been charged with eight counts of mischief.

“This investigation is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence," the TPS said, adding that such cases are handled by its Hate Crime Unit.

Police noted that if a person is charged and convicted, hate motivation may be considered an aggravating factor during sentencing.

Anti-immigrant sentiment in Canada has intensified in recent years, partly driven by a surge in newcomers under policies introduced by the government of then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Although Ottawa has since moved to curb immigration levels, concerns over housing affordability and strained infrastructure have contributed to a sharp shift in public opinion.

Indians, who now form the largest and most visible group of new immigrants, have increasingly been targeted. Several videos showing people being attacked over their national origin have surfaced in recent months.

In a separate incident in October last year, the Peel Regional Police announced the arrest of a 29-year-old woman in connection with anti-Indian graffiti in Mississauga, part of the Greater Toronto Area.

That graffiti, found near a children’s park, included the phrase “Indian Rats." Police said the spray-painted messages contained derogatory remarks targeting both the Muslim and Indian communities.

News world Canadian Woman, 29, Arrested Over Hate-Motivated Graffiti Targeting Indians In Subway

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