Toronto Police said they will be increasing their presence after a Jewish elementary school was shot at in the early hours of May 25.
Inspector Paul Krawczyk told media that the shooting happened just before 5 a.m. at the Bais Chaya Mushka, a girls’ elementary school.
“Suspects arrived at the school in a dark-coloured vehicle. They exited the vehicle and opened fire at the school, causing some damage to the front of the school,” he said. “The suspects then got back into the vehicle and left the area.”
Insp. Krawczyk said there were no injuries reported nor sounds of gunshots in the area.
He said that the Toronto Police were going to increase their presence in the neighbourhood.
“I completely understand that this can cause concern and fear and anxiety in the community,” he said during the media conference. “The Toronto Police is going to ensure that community safety is [of] utmost importance as we always do.”
The inspector said that more officers will be seen at other schools as well as synagogues for public safety.
“We’re not going to ignore the obvious, and so the hate crime unit is fully supporting this investigation.”
Police have also asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact them, and not to circulate any videos of the incident at this time.
Politicians React
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the attack a “brazen act of antisemitism.”“Reports of shots fired at a Jewish elementary school in North York are despicable,” he
said on the X platform on May 25. “Its perpetrators need to be brought to justice. I encourage anyone with information about this incident to share it with Toronto Police.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the attack a “gross display of antisemitism.”
“It’s beyond belief that anyone could be this hateful,” he said in a May 25
post on X. “Every student deserves to feel safe at school.”
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow similarly called the attack a “despicable antisemitic act.”
“Jewish children and families should not be made to fear for their safety,” she
said on X. “Toronto Police are increasing their presence around religious schools and synagogues. I am in contact with the Chief about the plan to keep children and families safe.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also condemned the attack, calling it “disgusting.”
“Another disgusting overnight attack on a Jewish school,” Mr. Poilievre
posted on X. “Police must find and arrest the monsters responsible for this anti-Semitic hatred and violence.”
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he was “horrified” by the incident.
“My thoughts are with the families, students, teachers, staff and the entire Jewish community facing a rise of antisemitism,” he
said on X. “The perpetrators must be brought to justice. Targeting a school and children is cowardly and despicable.”
Increased Attacks
The incident is one of many targeting the Jewish community in Canada since the breakout of the war in Gaza after the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel.
On Jan. 3, Toronto police
said they were investigating a fire at a Jewish-owned grocery store as a hate-motivated crime. The deli had also been sprayed with graffiti saying “Free Palestine.”
In December 2023, RCMP
arrested an Ottawa youth for allegedly planning a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community.
A month prior, a Jewish school in Toronto was
evacuated after police received a bomb threat. A synagogue and nearby daycare were also cleared out due to the threat.
Andrew Chen contributed to this report.
