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Toronto police are investigating after two separate locations of a Jewish-owned bakery chain reported damage, with one hit by gunfire, on Sunday morning.
Officers responded to reports of a bakery with a damaged window due to gunshots near Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue W., Toronto police said on social media platform X.
They said another location of the same chain, near Bathurst Street and Steeles Avenue W., had reports of a broken window, but not by gunfire.
Duty Insp. Scott Bradbury said at a news conference that officers found evidence of a shooting only at the first location and there were no reported injuries at either place. He said the hate crime unit and gun and gang task force are investigating.
“We understand that this is concerning for those that work and live in this area, especially members of the Jewish community, and we have all the resources available to thoroughly investigate this matter,” he said.
Residents can expect an increased police presence as the investigation continues.
Bradbury said investigators are not yet certain if both incidents are connected, but noted that both bakeries are part of the same chain.
He urged anyone with information or video evidence to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
Incident ‘shattered’ sense of peace in residents
The joy and feeling of security amongst community members was “shattered” along with the windows, as the bakeries are closed during the police investigation, said Noah Shack, CEO with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.
“It’s alarming for residents heading over to grab bagels on a Sunday morning to instead be greeted by police tape,” he said.
“Thankfully no one was injured … but of course concern [is there] about how this could continue to escalate.”
Shack urged government officials at all levels to “take this threat seriously” by ensuring law enforcement are adequately resourced to respond.
“This has to be a country of peace, order and good governance and that has to be our north star in driving the response to this incident,” he said.
Adam Minsky, president of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, said several residents who frequent the bakeries reached out to him and were “incredibly shaken” by the events.
He said this is just the latest in a pattern of shootings in the city this year that has scared all residents of the city, not just the Jewish community.
Some GTA synagogues were hit with gunfire earlier this year and active investigations by police led to the arrest of suspects in relation to some of those cases.
“This is an incredibly frightening situation. Everyone in the GTA should be able to come to a restaurant, have brunch with their family without having to be frightened,” said Minsky.
He said he was happy to hear that police were quick to respond and get the hate crime unit already involved in the investigation.
