VANDALISM AT BUDDHIST SITES MAY BE HATE CRIME

Montreal police confirmed Wednesday they

are investigating vandalism at Buddhist temples as potential hate crimes. Louis Le, a volunteer at the Quan Am temple, said his temple was vandalized twice in the last month by a hooded individual captured on security video smashing statues with a hammer. Le said he has become aware two other temples had experienced something similar.

The 24-year-old, who has lived in Montreal his whole life, said he believes the vandalism stems from fear over the new coronavirus, which originated in China. “My theory is because of the coronavirus right now,” he said in a phone interview. “People associate it with the Asian community. It’s just prejudice and injustice.” Police say they don’t yet have a motive for the vandalism.