A Toronto Jewish school was raided Saturday for the second time this year, police said, as Canada sees an increase in anti-Semitic attacks since the start of the Gaza war.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says anti-Semitism is “a despicable and dangerous form of hatred.”
No one was injured after shots were fired from a vehicle around 4pm (0800 GMT) at the Bais Chaya Mushka Girls’ School, with the only damage being a broken window, authorities said.
The school in Toronto’s North York area was targeted in a similar incident in May, and police believe the two shootings are linked.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “very disturbed” by the incident, which occurred as Jews celebrated Yom Kippur, Judaism’s holiest day of the year.
“While we await more details, my heart goes out to the students, staff and parents who must be scared and hurt today,” Trudeau said in a message on X. “Anti-Semitism is a despicable and dangerous form of hatred and we will not allow it to continue,” he added.
According to a report published in May by the Jewish organization B’nai Brith Canada, anti-Semitic acts doubled in the country between 2022 and 2023.
In November 2023, a Jewish school in Montreal was targeted by two gunmen in a single week, with no reported injuries.
