Hate Crimes Unit investigates nooses found at Toronto construction sites

Police arrived on the scene at Dundas Street East and Sumach Street around 11 p.m. They said this is the second time an incident like this has occurred in the past month.

Reportedly, a noose was found hanging from the ceiling of the 29th floor of building that was closed off for construction. The noose was discovered and reported to police by workers at the site.

The construction company, The Daniels Corporation, and its workers are now helping out with the investigation.

The Hate Crimes Unit has also been notified about the incident.

A noose was previously reported as found on a construction site at the beginning of June.

Employees of working on the Michael Garron Hospital discovered nooses left at an area of construction near the hospital on June 10.

The company who is responsible for the construction, EllisDon, said that the noose they discovered has been strategically placed, and that there was reason to believe that it was racially motivated.

EllisDon said that they held meetings after the incident, asked employees to confess, and launched an investigation. They also said that support was offered to anyone who in need due to the incident.

Toronto police Supt. Michael Barsky said that there were ropes hanging from the ceiling that were holding up an HVAC unit. None of those, he told Global News, looked like a noose other than the one that appeared in a photo.

A hate crime investigation has been opened in that case.

Hate-motivated incidents are on the rise since 2019, according to Toronto police, with race often being a part of the motivation. Police say that hate-motivated crimes often go unreported so the statistics around the numbers could be inaccurate.

On Sunday, the day before the noose was discovered, dozens of people attended an anti-racism rally in Regent Park.