Police seek suspect in alleged hate crime

City police are investigating what they consider a hate-motivated assault after a transgender woman was verbally and physically attacked on a CTrain.

They say on Oct. 27 at about 4:40 p.m., the woman heading south from the downtown was assailed verbally by a man without provocation.

Police say the incident soon escalated, with the assailant punching the woman in the face before leaving the train at Chinook Station after an emergency button was pressed.

Police believe the abuse centred on the woman’s transgender identity. The city police’s Hate Crimes Co-ordinator is now investigating and is calling for witnesses to come forward, particularly two people seen on the CTrain platform speaking with the suspect.

The suspect is described as Caucasian, clad in dark-coloured jeans and possibly with a neck tattoo.

He has short, sandy-coloured hair and had a few days’ growth of facial hair.

Anyone with information on the assault is asked to call police at 403-266-1234 or contact the Hate Crimes Co-ordinator at hatecrime@calgarypolice.ca.