Jewish school in Canada’s Toronto hit by gunfire for second time this year

A Jewish school in Canada’s Toronto was hit by gunfire on Saturday (Oct 12) for the second time this year, as the country has seen a rise in anti-Semitic attacks since the start of the war in Gaza.

A report by the news agency AFP said that shots were fired from a vehicle at around 4 am local time at the Bais Chaya Mushka girls’ school. No one was injured in the incident. 

The school in the North York area of Toronto was targeted in a similar incident in May, and police believe the two shootings were connected.

Addressing a press conference, Inspector Paul Krawczyk said that upon investigation, police determined the window, along with other parts of the building, had been struck by gunfire.

Inspector Krawczyk said that no one was in school at the time of the shooting. “Police are not releasing any details about suspects at this time,” he added.

Krawczyk said it was particularly concerning that the incident happened on the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur, one of the most sacred days in the Jewish calendar. 

He pointed out that over the past several weeks, police have increased their presence in Jewish neighbourhoods (in Toronto), and police presence would increase in the school’s neighbourhood.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said early Sunday that he was “very disturbed” by the incident. In a post on X, Prime Minister Trudeau said, “As we wait for more details, my heart goes out to the students, staff and parents who must be terrified and hurting today.”

“Anti-Semitism is a disgusting and dangerous form of hate — and we won’t let it stand,” he added.

Bais Chaya Mushka girls’ school was the target of a shooting in May. A report by CBC said that unknown suspects allegedly fired on the school in May. Following this incident, community members and politicians held a rally condemning hatred and antisemitism.

In November last year, a Jewish school in Montreal was shot at twice in a single week, with no one injured. 

According to a report published in May by Jewish organization B’nai Brith Canada, anti-Semitic acts more than doubled in Canada between 2022 and 2023. 

(With inputs from agencies)