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“The shooting that took place at the U.S. consulate early this morning is an absolutely unacceptable act of violence and intimidation aimed at our American friends and neighbours,” Ford said in a social media post. “I’m glad to see that the Toronto Police are investigating and I expect that police at all levels will bring every resource to bear to find the people who did this.”
Ford made it clear that Canadian authorities intend to treat the incident with the highest level of seriousness.
“We will do whatever it takes to prosecute and punish the people responsible to the fullest extent of the law,” Ford said.
Officials in Washington also acknowledged the situation. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department confirmed that American authorities are aware of the shooting and are coordinating closely with Canadian law enforcement agencies as the investigation unfolds.
However, the department declined to provide further information about the incident or whether additional security measures have been implemented at the consulate.
The shooting comes at a tense moment for Toronto, where several recent acts of gunfire have already shaken the community.
Over the past two weekends, two separate synagogues located in the greater Toronto area were struck by overnight gunfire. In those cases, police discovered bullet holes in the entrance of at least one synagogue building. While no injuries were reported, the incidents raised serious fears among members of the city’s Jewish community.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned those synagogue shootings, describing them as attacks on the fundamental freedoms of Jewish Canadians.
Officials have not yet confirmed whether the synagogue incidents are linked to the shooting near the U.S. Consulate. Authorities have also not determined whether the situation could be related to rising geopolitical tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Local media outlets reported that police temporarily shut down streets around the consulate while investigators examined the scene and collected evidence.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow addressed the situation publicly, acknowledging the growing concern among residents following the recent series of incidents.
“This morning the U.S. consulate was shot at. This comes after shootings at synagogues over the past two weekends. This cannot stand,” Chow told reporters ahead of a city council meeting. “Toronto’s Jewish community has the right to practice their faith and culture and to live their day to day lives without fear, intimidation or violence.”
City leaders say additional police resources have been deployed to the area, particularly around diplomatic buildings and religious institutions, as authorities attempt to prevent further incidents.
Chow also emphasized that city officials are standing behind law enforcement as the investigation continues.
She added that authorities have the full support of her office in “finding the people responsible and bringing them to justice.”
For now, investigators continue working to piece together what exactly happened outside the U.S. Consulate and whether the gunfire represents an isolated act or part of a broader pattern of politically or ideologically motivated intimidation.
As tensions remain high, both Canadian and American officials are watching closely to see what investigators uncover in the coming days.
