Toronto Police have arrested Amaka Sonnberger, a 46-year-old Canadian-Nigerian woman, on allegations of making hate-motivated threats against Yoruba and Benin citizens residing in Canada. The arrest follows an investigation into an online post dated August 25, 2024, where Sonnberger is accused of threatening to poison members of these specific Nigerian communities.
The Toronto Police Service made the announcement on Sunday through a statement titled “Suspected Hate-Motivated Threatening Investigation, Woman Arrested.” The arrest occurred on September 1, 2024, following a report received on August 28, 2024, regarding the threatening content.
Sonnberger has been charged with uttering threats and is scheduled to appear before a judge at the Ontario Court of Justice on September 2, 2024. The court session will take place at 2201 Finch Avenue West in Toronto.
The case has been classified as a suspected hate-motivated offence, and the Toronto Police Hate Crime Unit is leading the investigation. The police statement emphasized the seriousness of hate-motivated crimes and noted that such cases might involve consultation with the Crown. If Sonnberger is convicted, hate will be considered an aggravating factor during sentencing, potentially leading to harsher penalties.
In the statement, the Toronto Police Service highlighted that charges related to hate speech, such as promoting hatred or advocating genocide, require the consent of the Attorney General, which can often cause delays in the legal process. The statement further explained that when suspected hate-motivated offences are reported, the investigation could be conducted by a Divisional Investigator with support from the Hate Crime Unit (HCU) or exclusively by the HCU, depending on the nature of the case.
The police are urging anyone with additional information about this incident to contact them at 416-808-3500. Those wishing to remain anonymous can reach out to Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.222tips.com.
