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Second charge on SkyTrain

The man accused of a racism-fuelled assault of a woman on a SkyTrain Monday night has previously been charged with a second SkyTrain assault of a 10-year-old girl.

Pierre Belzan, 46, was arrested by Transit Police Monday after allegedly targeting 18-year-old Noor Fadel for wearing a hijab, before hitting her in the face.

Belzan appeared in court Thursday, but it's not his first time there.

In May, Belzan was riding the Canada Line SkyTrain when he allegedly swung a heavy mesh bag into the legs of a 10-year-old girl who was with her sister and Filipino parents.

Belzan was scheduled to be in court for that assault charge Tuesday, but his arrest on Monday has delayed that appearance.

Transit Police called Monday's incident an “an unprovoked hate crime.”

Belzan was born in Algeria, but immigrated to Canada in 1993.

His bail hearing was put over until Dec. 11.  

– with files from CTV Vancouver



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