Police released images of all three suspects, shown above (via Peel Regional Police)
Police are looking for three suspects who were seen on video beating a man with autism at a bus terminal in Mississauga, Ontario. The incident occurred Tuesday at approximately 10:45 PM at Square One terminal on Rathburn Road West in Mississauga.The video, which shows graphic violence, can be viewed below. In it, three men surround and beat a man sitting on a staircase who appears to be putting rollerblades on. The men walk down the stairs, then immediately start kicking and hitting the victim. It’s not clear what—if anything—provoked the attack. The suspects then quickly leave the scene. Investigators are looking for help with identifying the suspects:Police described all three suspects as men of South Asian descent and 5’10.”The victim, who is 29 years old, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Peel Regional Police called the attack a “vicious assault.”Bruce McIntosh, president of the Ontario Autism Coalition, told VICE that an attack like this would likely cause serious trauma for a person with autism.“On top of all the other challenges that people with autism have to overcome to function in a world that wasn’t built for them, then to have complete strangers do something like that,” McIntosh said.“It’s more than just a beating,” he said. “There’s a lasting impact there.”McIntosh referenced how social interaction can be extremely challenging for people with autism. “You never know just to what degree these things will set a person back,” he said.Studies show people with autism are more likely to be victims of hate crimes and violence.If you have information about the incident, contact 12 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau at (905) 453-2121, ext. 1233.
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