Police say they expected Iran conflict would cause violence in Toronto

Toronto Police are sounding the alarm over a surge in antisemitic violence, following the late Monday night shooting at a North York synagogue.

Source: Adobe Stock

Toronto Police are sounding the alarm over a surge in antisemitic violence, following the late Monday night shooting at a North York synagogue.

Toronto Police Service Deputy Chief Robert Johnson addressed the incident at a press conference Tuesday afternoon, calling it “deeply troubling.”

“At the outset of the military actions in Iran on Saturday, we further increased our visibility and patrols knowing this geopolitical event would have local impacts,” Johnson said.

“Our intelligence teams are continuously monitoring global events and assessing any impact they may have locally.”

Officers were called to Temple Emanu-El at around 10:15 p.m. following reports of gunshots. No injuries were reported, but police located shell casings and damage to the front of the building.

The incident occurred after a Purim celebration at the synagogue earlier that evening.

Police say a vehicle was seen leaving the area following the gunshots, though a description of the suspect or suspects has not been released.

Johnson said Toronto police are seeing the effects of what he described as a “deeply troubling rise in antisemitism” on a daily basis.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israeli citizens, the Toronto Police Service has made 309 arrests and laid 858 charges related to hate crimes. In the first two months of 2026 alone, 22 antisemitic occurrences have been reported to police.

Johnson reaffirmed the service’s commitment to doing “everything within our authority” to protect Toronto’s Jewish community, including increasing police presence in Jewish neighbourhoods and around places of worship.

He added that police are working closely with community partners to share information quickly.

The investigation remains ongoing.