Canadian church’s building vandalized

AJAX, ONTARIO — Vandals overturned equipment, punched holes in walls and spray painted messages with racial and religious undertones on a church building near Toronto.

Police were treatingthe early December attack as a hate crime and met with church members to assurethem they would investigate it fully, according to the Toronto Star. At presstime, police had not made an arrest.

The act of vandalismwas “pretty sad and pretty scary business — especially the hate graffiti spraypainted on the inside walls,” said Walter Straker, a member of the BramaleaChurch of Christ who has visited the Ajaxchurch.

Mack Porter, who hasworked with the congregation for 30 years, said that the church canceled itsDec. 4 services. Police sent a work crew to clean the facility a few dayslater, and on Dec. 8 church members repaired the damaged walls.

“Thisis the first time something like this has happened to one of our buildings orcongregations,” Straker said.