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Calgarian 'mad at ISIS' pleads guilty in spraying of racist LRT graffiti

A Calgary man spray-painted hateful, racist graffiti on a Calgary LRT station in December because he was "mad at ISIS" over the Paris attack, court heard as he pleaded guilty on Wednesday.

WARNING: This story contains details that may be disturbing to some

Kyle James McKenzie pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of mischief over $5,000 and inciting hatred. Calgary police released this image before the arrest of McKenzie and Miguel Lavergne, who faces mischief charges. (Calgary Police Service)

A Calgary man spray-painted hateful, racist graffiti on a Calgary LRT station in December because he was "mad at ISIS" over the Paris attack, court heard as he pleaded guilty on Wednesday.

Kyle James McKenziepleaded guiltyto charges of mischief over $5,000 and inciting hatred.

"I did all of the tagging as I was mad at ISIS because they shot up the people of Paris and I am French Canadian," McKenzie told police, according to a court document.

This is one of the racist statements sprayed in December at the Tuscany LRT station. (CBC)

"I don't hate all Muslims but I do hate what ISIS stands for."

Miguel Lavergne is also charged in connection with the incident but only faces mischief charges.

"The tagging was all my idea," McKenzie told police. "Miguel Lavergne was with me but did not do any of the tagging."

Two men were seenon CCTV entering the Tuscanystation around5:45 p.m. on Dec. 3 and using gold spray paint to writemessages throughout the station, on aC-Train carandon five private vehicles parked outside.

Lavergne and McKenzie werearresteddays later.

Miguel Lavergne faces mischief charges after anti-Muslim graffiti appeared at the Tuscany LRT station in December. (Meghan Grant/CBC)

Police classified the vandalismas a hate-motivated crime.

The spray-painted comments were disparaging to Syrian refugees and Muslims.

The often misspelledmessages included swastikas andwhite-power symbols and some urged readers to "kill" Muslims and Syrians, making the incident a cut-and-driedhatecrime in the eyes of investigators.

Total damage is estimated to be more than $20,000, according to police.

"I am gladthat it made the media as I wanted to be famous for something and I wanted to come to jail for the winter," McKenzie told police.

A sentencing hearing will take place on June 15.