Canadian police are investigating after the United States consulate in downtown Toronto was hit by gunfire early Tuesday morning. No one was hurt.
The head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Superintendent Chris Leather, called it a national security incident and said the national police force is working with Toronto police to understand the motive. Leather said the American and Israeli consulates, as well as the embassies in Ottawa, will see increased security.
Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said two people got out of a white Honda CRV SUV around 4:30 a.m. and fired multiple shots at the building before fleeing.
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“There were people inside the building. However, this building is highly secured and heavily fortified and there were no injuries,” he said.
Barredo said both suspects were involved in the discharge of the firearm. He said there were shell casings and damage outside, but said the bullets did not penetrate the building.
“It’s very secure. The glass and the walls are reinforced and so I don’t believe there was any penetration into the building. It’s quite possible that the people in the building didn’t even notice,” he said.
Police released a photo of the white SUV, but had no further information on the suspects.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called it “an absolutely unacceptable act of violence and intimidation aimed at our American friends and neighbors,” and he hinted at a possible connection to the war in Iran.
“That’s just me talking. I believe there are sleeper cells all over the world as we know them. They’re in the US, they’re in Canada here. We need to take these people down and hold them accountable,” Ford said.
“That’s my personal opinion and I don’t think I’m too far off in saying that. It’s a different world now that we’re dealing with riots happening everywhere.”
Police said it is still too early to determine a motive.
The shooting comes after two Toronto-area synagogues were hit by gunfire last weekend.
“This cannot stand. Toronto’s Jewish community has the right to practice their faith and culture and live their daily lives without fear, intimidation or violence,” said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. “As we have seen many times, anti-Semitic incidents increase when international incidents increase. It is never acceptable to target the Jewish community.”
Chow said there is a heavy police presence Tuesday at the US and Israeli consulates in Toronto.
Toronto has a large Iranian community, and the war in Iran has prompted demonstrations outside the US consulate, both in support and protest. The consulate is often the site of protests.
