Series of shooting incidents in Toronto, Canada
In 2024, the Bais Chaya Mushka Girls Elementary School in Toronto, Canada was targeted in three shooting incidents.
Incidents.
The series of attacks began in May 2024, with subsequent shootings occurring in October (during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur) and December of the same year. In each incident, the school building was damaged by gunfire, though students were able to continue attending classes. The shootings took place during a period of increased antisemitic incidents across Canada following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Israel-Hamas war. Specifically, the third shooting occurred within days of the firebombing of Congregation Beth Tikva in Montreal.
Response.
Law enforcement and government.
After the May 30 attack, councillor Mike Colle called on the province of Ontario to enhance penalties for acts of hate or violence committed near schools. Toronto Police arrested two individuals in conjunction with the October attack. In December, after the third shooting, the Government of Canada announced that a conference would be held in which political leaders would discuss strategies to combat antisemitism.
Premier Doug Ford faced criticism after he made remarks suggesting that immigrants were to blame for the school shooting in May, saying "don’t come to Canada if you’re going to start terrorizing neighbourhoods like this, simple as that." Ontario Liberal Party leader Bonnie Crombie described the comments as "wrong-headed" and "very intolerant behaviour". In response, Toronto Police Services said it was too early to determine if the shootings were hate-motivated.
Community.
In response to the first shooting, members of the Jewish community held a rally at the school to denounce the shooting.
International.
Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli condemned the attacks, saying "Canada is no longer safe for Jews" and criticizing Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau's response. Liberal Member of Parliament and advisor to Trudeau Anthony Housefather disagreed, describing Chikli's remarks as "a false and exaggerated statement", saying that despite the increase in antisemitism, Canada "remains one of the best places in the world for Jews to live."
References.
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