Man attacked, robbed , turban torn off in Ottawa

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Meeshika Sharma
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Ottawa police are investigating a potentially hate-motivated crime after a man was assaulted and his turban stolen near Westgate Shopping Centre Friday night.

Two suspects, described as white males by police, approached the victim at 11:25 p.m. while he waited for a bus. They asked the man about his ethnicity and spoke about cutting his beard and hair, police said Tuesday.

Staff Sgt. Mike Haarbosch of the Ottawa police said, "He was asked specifically about his ethnicity and then there were some racial slurs that came along with that."

"They also asked him whether he'd ever cut his hair or his beard, so, that's pretty specific, so at a minimum we're suggesting at this point that there were some racial overtones to this."

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The two suspects left, then returned and asked the man for change. Police said they started making racial slurs, and one suspect produced a knife.

The victim ran to a nearby business, which was locked. Police said the suspects then assaulted the man, dragged him on the ground and threatened him.

They also removed and stole the victim's turban, as well as his phone and bus pass, police said.

Haarbosch said this may be an isolated incident, but they're looking for more information. publive-image

"We have some information they may have been drinking, so this could certainly be a one-off event committed by a couple of guys that were acting stupidly and disgustingly, but that's part of the investigation that's going on."

The victim was treated by paramedics for minor injuries.

The first suspect is described as a white male in his 20s, five feet 10 inches tall and clean-shaven with short blondish-brown hair. He was last seen wearing an orange shirt, blue jeans and runners.

The second suspect is described by police as a white male in his 20s, five feet six inches tall, clean shaven and wearing blue track pants or pyjamas.

Police are investigating the incident and whether it was a hate-motivated crime.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Ottawa police's robbery unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5116. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

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