Shots were fired near the U.S. consulate in Toronto early Monday, marking the second such incident at the diplomatic facility in four months — According to Toronto police, officers responded to reports of a firearm being discharged in the area, with a white sedan seen fleeing the scene. The area was cordoned off. And shell casings were recovered, but no suspects have been identified and no one was injured.

Prime Minister Condemns Attack

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney denounced the shooting as an “attempt at intimidation” and pledged that federal and local police forces would work together to apprehend those responsible. “We’ll use the full weight of resources and ensure that the perpetrators feel the full weight of justice,” he said during a news conference on Parliament Hill. In a prior post on X, Carney described the attack as a “reprehensible act of violence.”

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have designated the incident a national-security event and have announced increased patrols around the U.S. consulate in Toronto, the U.S. embassy in Ottawa, and the Israeli consulate in Toronto. Chief Superintendent Chris Leather of the RCMP in Ontario emphasized the need for heightened vigilance, stating that the recent string of incidents “deserve a heightened amount of vigilance at this time.”

U.S. Embassy Expresses Concern

U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, expressed concern over the attack in a social media post, calling it “deeply troubling.” He was grateful that no one was injured and stated that his team is collaborating with Toronto police and Canadian authorities. “We have full confidence in their investigation,” he wrote. “Our work continues, we will not be intimidated.”

This attack follows a similar incident on 10 March, when two men fired shots at the U.S. consulate. On 2 June, police arrested two men, aged 18 and 19, in connection with that earlier shooting. Authorities said the men had been recruited to carry out violent acts, though no further details were provided.

Patterns of Violence

Authorities are also investigating a pattern of similar incidents. Toronto police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo noted at a press conference that they are aware of a recent series of shootings involving three synagogues in the Toronto area within just over a week. Police are examining whether the same modus operandi is being used across different targets.

On 2 March, a shooting occurred at a Toronto synagogue, prompting concerns about a potential pattern of violence. Barredo confirmed that the U.S. consulate shooting is being treated as a national security issue, but the police have not yet linked it directly to the earlier synagogue attacks.

As investigations continue, officials from both Canada and the United States are working to determine whether the incidents are connected or part of a broader pattern of targeted violence. The U.S. consulate in Toronto thanked local authorities for their swift response to Monday’s shooting and reaffirmed its commitment to diplomatic relations in the region.