Toronto police are investigating two attacks on branches of a Jewish-owned bakery as hate crimes following incidents Sunday morning across the city.
At one location near Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue West, gunfire shattered the storefront window. A second bakery branch near Bathurst Street and Steeles Avenue West sustained window damage in a separate incident, with no evidence of gunfire involved in that attack. No injuries were reported at either location.
The hate crime unit is collaborating with the gun and gang task force on the investigation. Toronto Police Duty Inspector Scott Bradbury stated, "We understand that this is concerning for those who work and live in this area, especially members of the Jewish community, and we have all the resources available to thoroughly investigate this matter."
Police have not yet established whether the two incidents are connected, though both targeted the same bakery chain. Patrols have been increased in the affected areas, and authorities are seeking information and surveillance footage from the public.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the attacks, saying he was closely monitoring developments. "I was following with concern the worrying news from Toronto of further attacks against Jewish businesses this morning," Sa'ar said. He noted that while no one was injured, "this is the latest attack in a long and horrifying line of violence and intimidation against the Canadian Jewish community," And called for action, stating, "The Canadian government must confront this antisemitic, violent wave!"