Police command post to set up at Canada’s Wonderland amid security concerns due to Israel-Hamas war

Police services in the GTA are continuing to take measures to ensure people feel safe amid violence in the Middle East.

York Regional Police (YRP) say they are setting up a second mobile command post to address security concerns expressed by residents’ as a result of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

“YRP continues to coordinate with our federal and provincial partners and no credible threat has been identified within the region at this time,” reads a release from the service. “However, we are actively monitoring the situation and will continue to deploy police resources strategically.”

The York police RIDE truck will be deployed at a parking lot Canada’s Wonderland on Tuesday and Wednesday before moving to the Armadale Community Centre in Markham for Thursday and Friday. The RIDE truck will then spend this weekend at Hillcrest Mall in Richmond Hill.

An existing York police command post at the Promenade Mall in Thornhill will remain in place.

Both command posts will be staffed between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day to take reports and discuss any community concerns. Police say the command posts will remain in the community until at least next Monday.

“We have zero tolerance for incidents motivated by hate in our community and we will thoroughly investigate any reports of hate-motivated offences, incidents or acts,” reads the police release. “We understand the feelings of conflict and pain in our community as events around the world continue to be felt here in York Region.”

Earlier this month, Toronto police unveiled similar plans to keep security stepped up around Jewish communities and places of worship in the city in the wake of the Hamas attack in Israel.

Toronto police said last week they have seen a 132 per cent increase in hate-related calls since the war broke out. The Toronto Police Service Board was considering a motion from the City to create community safety zones around places of worship and cultural centres, including schools and daycares.

Police services across Canada say they are dealing with heightened fears from both Jewish and Muslim groups since the latest Israel-Hamas war broke out more than two weeks ago.

The federal government says it is working with the RCMP to address such concerns and has called for calm, saying that no community, whether Jewish or Muslim, should face discrimination.  

With files from The Canadian Press