What to know
- Police say two male suspects exited a white Honda CR-V near Dundas St. W. and University Ave. and fired several shots at the consulate building before fleeing.
- Authorities found evidence at the scene including a damaged door, shattered glass and shell casings, and shared a photo of the suspects’ vehicle.
- The incident is being treated as a national security matter, with TPS’s Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force working alongside the RCMP and federal partners.
- Officials say security has been increased around consulate buildings in Toronto and Ottawa as police investigate possible links to rising global tensions and recent shootings targeting synagogues in the GTA.
Toronto Police Services (TPS) says it’s looking for terrorism links after responding to a shooting report in the U.S. Consulate.
At approximately 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, TPS responded to a call in the U.S. Consulate at 360 University Ave., revealing suspects had allegedly fired multiple shots at the building.
According to police, two male suspects were travelling in a white Honda CR-V west of Dundas St. W., when they turned on University Ave. and allegedly left the vehicle and fired multiple shots at the building, before re-entering the vehicle and fleeing the scene.
Officers then found evidence of a shooting at the scene, including a damaged door, broken glass, and firearm shell casings. Police say there were people inside the building during the time of the incident, but no injuries were reported.
Although the call was received later on, police say evidence suggests the shooting may have happened earlier in the morning, at around 4:29 a.m.
Deputy chief Frank Barredo said investigations over the incident are being led by TPS’s Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force, in collaboration with other authorities in the GTA and federal partners.
“This is very early in the investigation. It’s very active, and we’re aggressively assigning investigation and resources to determine what happened and to bring the offenders to justice,” he said during a press conference on Tuesday.
“We appreciate and understand the concern and how unsettling this is, how disturbing it is and how angry it may make some citizens. And I can assure Torontonians and Canadians that the Toronto Police Service considers this the utmost serious type of event and we are actively pursuing its resolution.”
Police have released an image of the vehicle and are working on identifying witnesses and reviewing footage of security cameras in the area. Those who may have information about the incident, including any camera footage, are urged to contact police through 416-808-2510, anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.
RCMP Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said the shooting is being treated as a “national security incident.” The national RCMP team is also involved in the investigation, as they try to understand the motivations behind the incident.
Leather also says police have increased security across consulate buildings in Toronto and Ottawa as the investigation unveils.
“There will be no tolerance for any form of intimidation, harassment or harmful targeting of any communities or individuals in Canada. We want to assure that everybody’s safety and security is at the forefront of everything that we do,” he says. “There is no indication of an immediate threat to public safety at this time.”
Although the incident has been linked by officials to heightened tensions in the Middle East following a U.S.-Israel attack on Iran, Leather says it is too early in the investigation to determine if that’s true.
Read More
Last week, GTA officers also responded to reports of shots fired at synagogues in the region.
York Regional Police first responded to an initial shooting report on Friday at the BAYT Synagogue in Thornhill, while minutes later TPS also responded to another attack at the Shaarei Shomayim Congregation in North York.
Police are also still investigating these other two incidents and the motivation behind them.
Canadian leaders react
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday before the TPS scrum, Mayor Olivia Chow said she is fully supporting police operations in regards to the shooting.
The mayor has also been vocal about the attacks on synagogues in Toronto and Thornhill, calling for the end of the attacks and revealing that police have ramped up presence at the locations.
“These attacks on Jewish institutions must stop and as Mayor I will continue to support the Toronto Police with whatever resources are needed to make this happen. Toronto’s Jewish community has the right to practice their faith without fear, intimidation or violence,” the mayor wrote on X (formerly Twitter) over the weekend.
“As we have seen repeatedly, antisemitic incidents increase in our city as international events unfold. I want to be clear: it is never acceptable to target the Jewish community.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the shooting “an absolutely unacceptable act of violence” toward U.S. residents, and said he expects police to find the suspects.
“Everyone at all levels of government and across Canada needs to make clear that there is zero tolerance for this sort of intimidating and dangerous behaviour, and that we will do whatever it takes to prosecute and punish the people responsible to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said RCMP and federal agencies will be devoting resources to support local investigations, and added that his government is working to ramp up national security.
“This weekend, our government’s Incident Response Group reviewed potential changes to the threat landscape in Canada and underlined the importance of continued vigilance to enhance domestic security,” he said in a post on X.
Canada’s new government has taken bold action to strengthen law enforcement and the Criminal Code. We will use every tool available to ensure the safety and security of our communities.”
U.S. closes Middle East embassies
Last week, the U.S. government reportedly closed several embassies across Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Kuwait in preparations for potential repercussions from the attack in Iran.
In addition, government officials, such as Assistant Secretary of State Mora Namdar, are urging Americans to flee Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, the UAE, and Qatar in light of “serious safety risks.”
The @SecRubio @StateDept urges Americans to DEPART NOW from the countries below using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks. Americans who need State Department assistance arranging to depart via commercial means, CALL US 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from… pic.twitter.com/vdplAik2Sq
— Assistant Secretary Mora Namdar (@AsstSecStateCA) March 2, 2026
