Toronto: Shots fired at 2 synagogues overnight leave community shaken
In toronto, the quiet of the night was broken by gunfire that left bullet holes in synagogue doors and a congregation unnerved. At Shaarei Shomayim, near Bathurst Street and Glencairn Avenue, officers found damage to entry doors shortly after midnight; elsewhere, worshippers at a Thornhill house of worship sheltered as shots rang out, but no one was hit.
What happened in Toronto?
Police are investigating two separate shootings at synagogues that followed a similar incident earlier in the week. Toronto Police Service responded to shots in the area of Bathurst Street and Glencairn Avenue, finding bullet holes in the doors of Shaarei Shomayim. York Region Police handled the attack at Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto in Thornhill. York Region Police Deputy Kevin McCloskey said an unknown number of suspects arrived at the synagogue in a dark sedan and opened fire on the building; people were inside at the time but no one was struck. Earlier in the week, officers were called to Temple Emanu-El in the city’s north end, where bullet casings and damage were discovered.
How are leaders and community members responding?
The incidents have left many in the Jewish community feeling frightened and angry. Sara Lefton, with the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto, said the community is “shaken to our core. ” She added, “And I think we’re incredibly angry and frustrated, because we’ve seen the progression of this kind of intimidation and hatred over the last few years. Hateful words turn into hateful actions, and we’ve seen it in other parts of the globe. We saw it in Bondi Beach, where 15 people were shot and killed during a Hanukkah celebration, and we have seen it elsewhere, and so we should not be surprised when it happens here. “
Political and diplomatic leaders also spoke out. Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote that federal agencies and the RCMP will use “every resource” to help local police identify the perpetrators and “bring them to the full weight of justice. ” Iddo Moed, Israel’s ambassador to Canada, said he was shocked by the attacks and described assaults on houses of worship as “abhorrent acts of violence that strike at the heart of our shared values—safety, dignity, and freedom of religion. ” The incidents have drawn widespread condemnation from officials and community leaders.
What are authorities doing and what happens next?
Local police forces are conducting active investigations into the shootings. The involvement of federal agencies and the RCMP was pledged to support identification of those responsible and to pursue legal action. Investigators have collected evidence at each scene, including bullet casings and damage to buildings. No injuries have been reported in the latest incidents, and law enforcement agencies continue to work to determine motive and to prevent further attacks.
Back at Shaarei Shomayim, congregants returned the next day to examine the scars left on the doors — a visible reminder of a night that interrupted prayer and bent the ordinary rhythms of life. For many here in toronto, the unanswered question is how to restore a sense of safety while authorities pursue those responsible, leaving neighbors watching and waiting for signs that the violence will stop.
