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Toronto police say they are investigating after shots were fired at a North York synagogue Monday night.
Around 10:50 p.m., officers received reports of gunshots being fired at a synagogue near Bayview Avenue and Highway 401, Toronto police spokesperson Stephanie Miceli said in an email. Officers found evidence of gunfire and damage to the synagogue, which CBC News has identified as Temple Emanu-El.
Police have increased patrols in the area, Miceli said. Last weekend, three GTA police services, including Toronto’s announced they’d step up patrols in the wake of the U.S. and Israel’s deadly strikes on Iran, which has triggered violence across the Middle East as Iran and its allies respond.
No one was injured, police said in a social media post. Police said they didn’t yet have suspect descriptions available.
The investigation is being led by Toronto police’s gun and gang task force, which is liaising with the hate crimes unit, Miceli said. Anyone with more information is asked to contact police.
There were also reports that Kehillat Shaarei Torah, another temple in the area, had been damaged by gunfire Monday night. But Miceli said it appeared the damage was related to a previous incident from November, as there was no gunfire at the location Monday evening or Tuesday morning.
That synagogue has been targeted by vandals at least 10 times in less than two years.
