Teenager arrested after shooting outside Toronto synagogue
TORONTO - An 18-year-old man has been arrested in connection with two suspected hate-motivated attacks against the Jewish community in Toronto, police said on Friday.
Following an investigation by the Counter-Terrorism Security Unit, the 18-year-old was charged with four counts of assault with a weapon and two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Toronto police said.
His arrest is related to two incidents that occurred in just more than a week.
On April 30, three people “visibly identifiable members of the Jewish community” were shot at with a replica firearm from a person in a vehicle while they were walking down the street in Toronto’s North York District. The victims sustained minor injuries.
In another incident on Thursday, also in North York, three people “visibly identifiable members of the Jewish community” were shot at with a replica firearm from a vehicle while they were standing outside a Toronto synagogue. One victim suffered minor injuries.
Police said the incidents were being investigated as hate-motivated offenses.
“We recognize that Jewish residents have been living with a heightened sense of fear due to repeated incidents targeting their community, and this only adds to that, which is unacceptable,” said Toronto Police’s Joe Matthews.
“While the weapons used were imitation firearms, the impacts are very real. These are criminal acts that we allege were meant to intimidate and cause fear.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was “disgusted by the targeted antisemitic attacks.”
“These attacks will not be tolerated and I’m pleased the Toronto Police have acted quickly in response and have a suspect in custody. I expect that all those who are responsible will be punished to the full extent of the law,” Ford said in a post on X.
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