Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is reaching out to Metro Vancouver Transit Police urging for an incident involving swastikas drawn on a train to be treated as a hate-motivated crime.

According to reports, Transit Police is recommending charges of mischief and assault of a police officer after officers arrested a man drawing swastikas on SkyTrain advertisements following several calls made by passengers on Saturday. The man reportedly spewed racial slurs at the officers before being arrested.

"We commend police for their determined efforts in ensuring the quick arrest of this individual who had chosen to publicly promote and spew hate. We would like this incident to be treated as not just mischief, but also as a hate-motivated crime since the swastika is a symbol of hate and must be treated more seriously than other forms of graffiti," said Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, FSWC's Director of the Campaign Against Antisemitism.