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Police have arrested a Toronto man in connection with an arson investigation after 600 Israeli flags were set ablaze outside the Word of Faith International Christian Centre in east end Toronto on Oct. 7.

Syed Raza, 29, was arrested and charged with arson, mischief under $5,000, mischief interfering with the lawful enjoyment of property, and disobeying a lawful order of court.

Police say that at approximately 1:02 a.m., Raza attended the area of Sunrise Avenue and O’Connor Drive and removed Israeli flags that were placed in front of the church. He then allegedly set those flags alight.

Then again, there is a silver lining here: the arsonist didn’t actually burn the church down, something that is grotesquely fashionable in certain circles these days.

Raza is innocent until proven guilty and the charges have yet to be proven in court.

Of note, police found the accused attending a pro-Hamas demonstration near Yonge Dundas Square on Saturday afternoon. It was a rally that turned violent at one point. Shockers.

Raza appeared in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre last Tuesday. He was given bail ($500) and ordered to obey certain conditions, such as not possessing weapons and avoiding any future visits to the Word of Faith International Christian Centre.

Of note: if the goal of the arson attack was to intimidate the church with respect to its support of the State of Israel, then this vile deed completely backfired. Rebel News visited the church last week and interviewed its pastor, John Ward. This was just hours after Ward had planted 1,200 Israel flags on the church’s front lawn to take the place of the original 600 flags that were incinerated. Clearly Ward is not one to back down; rather, he’s doubled down.

Raza’s court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 10. Rebel News plans to attend.