An Orthodox Jewish girls' school in Toronto, Canada, was shot early Saturday morning for the second time in five months.
Canada has seen an increase in anti-Semitic attacks since the start of the Gaza war, sparked by Hamas's terrorist attacks against Israel, and on Judaism's Day of Atonement, the biggest day of the year for Judaism. The targeted attack took place on the holy day of Yom Kippur.
AFP report Gunfire was fired from a vehicle at Bais Chaya Mushka Girls' School around 4 a.m. (8 p.m. Japan time), but no one was injured. Officials said the only damage was broken windows.
As Breitbart News reported, a school in Toronto's North York neighborhood was also the target of a similar incident in May, and police believe the two shootings are related.
A window showing bullet holes outside Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School. Toronto police are investigating a shooting at an Orthodox Jewish girls' school in North York. (Nick LaChance/Toronto Star via Getty)
Police are not releasing details about the suspect at this time, the inspector said. Paul Kraczyk said at a press conference.
Krachik said The Hate Crimes Unit is involved in the investigation, adding that the incident, which occurred on the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar, is of particular concern.
“We understand that this is very disturbing to the Jewish community,” he said.
Over the past few weeks, there has been an increased police presence in Jewish neighborhoods, Kloczyk added. He said police presence will increase near the school as the investigation continues and the community will be updated as more information becomes available.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “deeply disturbed” by the incident, which occurred as Jews celebrated Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism.
“As we await further details, our hearts go out to the students, staff, and parents who may be feeling scared and hurt today,” Trudeau said in a post on X.
A report released in May by the Jewish organization B'nai Brith Canada found that anti-Semitic acts in the country more than doubled from 2022 to 2023.
In November 2023, there were two shootings in one week at a Jewish school in Montreal, but no one was injured.
The rise in anti-Semitism across Canada is all happening on Trudeau's watch as Prime Minister.
