Toronto police increase patrols in Jewish communities and places of worship

Toronto police are planning to keep security stepped up around Jewish communities and places of worship as war rages in the Middle East, but say there is no evidence of any legitimate threats to residents in the city.

In a statement released Wednesday night, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) says it has “heard directly from community leaders in our city that the war is generating fear and insecurity in Toronto.”

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw spoke to reporters on Thursday morning saying the service was made aware of global threats circulating online and have expanded the increased police patrol to include cultural centres, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship around the city.

“Violence and hateful acts will not be tolerated in the city,” said Demkiw. “There will be two command posts setup to serve local communities, take reports, and serve as a location where officers will be on the ground and easily reached.”

Police have made it clear they are currently unaware of any “credible threats” to Jewish communities or other places of worship in Toronto.

“Residents are encouraged to report any allegations of hate motivated incidents to police for investigation,” reads the TPS statement. “The service is also working closely with federal and provincial partners and other law enforcement agencies to ensure coordination and information sharing.”

Various demonstrations took place in the city on Monday in solidarity with both the Palestinian and Israeli communities.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered at Nathan Phillips Square in front of Toronto City Hall on Monday afternoon. Later in the evening at North York’s Mel Lastman square, politicians and locals gathered to show their support for Israel and mourn those killed in the surprise weekend attack by Hamas.

Toronto police confirmed four arrests were made just as the rally was wrapping up at Mel Lastman Square. There was no word on charges and police described the event was as “mostly peaceful”.

The federal government said Wednesday it will begin to airlift Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their families from Tel Aviv by the end of the week as Israel continues to rain strikes on Gaza in response to the weekend attack.