2 GTA synagogues hit by gunfire overnight, police investigate

Police in parts of the Greater Toronto Area will be increasing their presence after shots were fired at two synagogues in North York and Vaughan.

Toronto police are investigating the shooting at a synagogue near Bathurst St. and Glencairn Ave. shortly after midnight, said spokesperson Shannon Eames.

Officers discovered bullet holes in the front door of a building, but no injuries were reported, said police on social media.

York police officers responded shortly before midnight to sounds of gunshots near Clark Ave. and Thornhill Blvd., said Const. Lisa Moskaluk in an emailed statement.

She said officers found evidence of gunfire at a building in the area and that a dark sedan was seen in the area at the time. No one was injured in the incident, said Moskaluk.

While she did not confirm what the building was “in order to protect their identity,” Moskaluk said additional patrols will be out in the community near “faith-based institutions, community centres, schools and public gathering places.”

Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca confirmed in a social media post that the shooting took place at the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto synagogue.

He expressed concerns for Jewish residents who may be impacted by the “hateful and anti-semitic act.”

“Too much inaction and repeated weak responses from too many leaders have permitted this behavior to become normalized,” he said, adding people will denounce the incident on social media Saturday, but not take action.

“But words stopped being enough long ago,” said Del Duca.

He said leaders at other levels of government should take “specific concrete action” and make it clear that anti-semitism will not be tolerated.

York police have set up a command post at the Promenade Mall in Thornhill to address public concerns stemming from the shooting, they said in a social media post.

Both police services are urging anyone with information to reach out to investigators.