Assailants opened fire in Toronto’s Jewish Bais Chaya Mushka girls elementary school on Thursday for the third time this year. No injuries were reported, but the shooting raised significant concern within Canada's Jewish community.
The bullets hit the building's exterior wall and classes resumed the following day under heavy security. This marks the third shooting following incidents in May and on Yom Kippur.
Vandalized menorah in Toronto synagogue
Toronto police reported receiving a call about the shooting early Friday morning around 2:33 a.m. Officers arriving at the scene found shell casings. An investigation has been launched, with the hate crimes unit involved due to "the possibility of an antisemitic motive."
Investigators are examining connections between this incident, the previous two shootings and other hate crimes targeting Jewish institutions in the city. No additional details about suspects or potential motives were given at this time.
Toronto's Jewish community is deeply shaken by the events. Community leaders are demanding increased security around Jewish educational and religious institutions and urging authorities to take stronger action against antisemitism. "This isn't just about property damage; it's an assault on our sense of safety as a community," said local Rabbi Yaakov Weiss.
Dr. Raheli Baratz head of the Department for Combatting Antisemitism and Enhancing Resilience at the World Zionist Organization, said, "Three shootings targeting a girls' elementary school in one year are not isolated incidents.”
“They reflect a troubling trend of escalating antisemitic attacks. The shift from vandalism to the use of firearms is a red line and its crossing demands an immediate, systemic response,” she added.
She urged Canadian law enforcement "to use every available resource to bring those responsible to justice, significantly increase security funding for Jewish institutions and expand educational programs to combat antisemitism in the Canadian school system.”
“Our department will continue to stand by Toronto's Jewish community and others across Canada, providing support and assistance while pursuing every possible avenue to ensure the safety of community members and institutions."
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Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow issued a statement following the incidents, urging anyone with relevant information to contact the police. " Enough is enough. Antisemitism and antisemitic attacks have no place in Toronto,” Chow said. “The latest shooting at the Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School is unacceptable. Once again students, families and neighbors are waking up to safety concerns.”
“Toronto Police acted swiftly and arrested two individuals connected to the October 12 firearm discharge incident. I trust the police will do everything they can again,” she added.