Police are working "flat out" on an investigation into a website that says Jews should be killed in a genocide, the commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police said yesterday.
"It's a high priority item for us," Commissioner Julian Fantino said. "It's regrettable that this kind of hate mongering is evident in our country but, you know, nonetheless we do what we can."
The police commissioner made the comments in an interview after the Internet site, Filthy Jewish Terrorists, continued to post statements supporting the mass killing of Jews.
The latest post says Jews should be "rounded up and executed" following last weekend's failed bombing at New York's Times Square, which it claims was an attempt to "frame innocent Muslims."
The National Post reported in March that the OPP was investigating Salman Hossain of Mississauga, Ont., over the website. Two months later, no charges have been laid, the site is still active and Canada's largest Jewish organization is growing impatient.
"It's got to stop," Bernie Farber, CEO of the Canadian Jewish Congress, said after viewing the latest comments. "Legal action is absolutely required now. We can't wait any
longer." Mr. Hossain has described himself in his online postings as "a regular Muslim supporting the jihad overseas" and a "buddy/acquaintance" of the Toronto 18 terrorists who plotted attacks
in Southern Ontario. The Bangladeshi-Canadian has also used the Internet to chronicle his dealings with police going back to 2007, when he began posting messages supporting terrorist attacks in Canada and the killing of Canadian troops.
Despite the police investigation, posts of a violent nature have continued to appear on the site. A March 8 post reads, "All Jews are treasonous, and the punishment includes death. Time to break out the rope and balance the scales of justice."
On Sunday, a new post said Jews should be executed and that, "The Jewish security threat must be exterminated immediately." The article was posted to the site using an email address bearing the name Arman Hossain.
Neither Arman Hossain nor Salman Hossain responded to email queries sent to their accounts yesterday.
Salman Hossain was suspended from York University after the Post reported he was under police investigation.
"It's still ongoing," Sergeant Dave Ross, the OPP spokesman, said of the investigation. Police would not comment on an online report claiming that Mr. Hossain's home was searched by police in mid-April.
Mr. Fantino said police had received "numerous complaints on this particular individual. We certainly are doing all our due diligence to investigate as thoroughly as we can."
He said while he personally feels the website was "crossing the line significantly," the investigation was complex and touched on the delicate issue of free speech.
"It adds complexities, and you know, if you recall, how long the likes of Ernst Zundel went on and on and on with his hate-mongering and all of that, it took a long time to basical ly kick him out of the country.
Mr. Farber said he had confidence in the OPP but, "We are very concerned with the length of time this investigation is taking.
"We know that these can be complicated investigations, but on the other hand it is absolutely necessary to bring this to a conclusion soon."
sbell@nationalpost.com
