Vancouver police have made four arrests in connection to two separate violent incidents that are being investigated as possible hate crimes.
Two brothers, Parminder Singh Peter Bassi and 27-year-old Ravinder Robbie Bassi, were arrested Wednesday at their Richmond, B.C. home. Both were charged with assault with bodily harm in a June 12 attack on David Holtzman and Peter Regier.
Const. Jana McGuinness said police have investigated the incident, which occurred outside the home that Holtzman and Regier share, as a hate crime, but the final determination will be made by the Crown.
Holtzman and Regier alleged their attackers made homophobic slurs.
The attack was a high-profile case in the city, as police released surveillance photographs June 18 in a news conference attended by Police Chief Jim Chu and Mayor Gregor Robertson.
Vancouver police are also investigating another violent incident that occurred Thursday as a possible hate crime.
A 30-year-old man is recovering from facial injuries after he was assaulted by two men who allegedly made comments about his sexual orientation.
Two men were arrested in connection with the incident early Thursday morning, which took place downtown on Davie Street. Alexandre Tchernychev and Aaron Alexander Hahn, both 21 and from Vancouver, have been charged with assault causing bodily harm.
