‘Disgusting hate’: Mayor Chow condemns shooting at Jewish girls’ school

Community groups are calling for action following a second targeted shooting at a Jewish girls' elementary school in North York. Rhianne Campbell has the latest from police, who say this incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime.

Toronto police are investigating after evidence of gunfire was found near a Jewish girls’ school in North York on Saturday.

It is unclear how many suspects were involved in the shooting, but police believe the shots were fired at the Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School from someone in a motor vehicle just after 4:00 a.m.

Insp. Paul Krawczyk says the school was empty at the time of the shooting and no one was harmed.

He says a window was smashed after it was struck by a bullet.

Krawczyk said the force’s gun and gang task force is leading the investigation, with support from members of the hate crime unit.

He added that police could not confirm whether the incident is considered a hate crime, but he noted there were signs the attack could have been motivated by hatred since it occurred on one of the most sacred days of the Jewish calendar.

“It is Yom Kippur, and a Jewish school has been shot up. So that is why the hate crime unit is a big part of this investigation,” Krawczyk said. 

The school is located in a heavily-populated Jewish neighbourhood near Dufferin Street and Finch Avenue West and was the target of a similar shooting back in May.

Police are working to determine if the two incidents are connected.

“It’s heartbreaking that for the second time in just a few months, the same Jewish elementary girls’ school has been targeted for violence. It’s horrifying but sadly it’s less and less surprising,” said Michael Westcott, CEO of Allies For A Strong Canada, who adds this is the second Jewish girls’ school in Canada that’s been targeted by gunfire.

“This is just a continuation in the escalation of violence that has been targeting the Jewish community.”

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow issued a statement on Saturday where she condemned the shooting as a “horrific antisemitic” act.

“This is the second time the school has been targeted by this disgusting hate. I reiterate that the students of Bais Chaya Mushka have the right to learn, and the teachers have a right to teach, in safety and without fear of antisemitic attacks,” Chow said. “Jewish families and the Jewish community should not be made to fear for their safety.”

According to Toronto police, attacks against the Jewish community have increased by 69 per cent so far this year.

Mayor Chow says police will increase their presence in the area to “protect the community and keep people safe.”

“Antisemitic violence and threats are unacceptable,” she added.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed similar sentiments, saying he was “very disturbed” to hear about the shooting.

“As we wait for more details, my heart goes out to the students, staff, and parents who must be terrified and hurting today,” he said in a social media post. “Antisemitism is a disgusting and dangerous form of hate — and we won’t let it stand.”

Westcott says while words are nice, elected officials and other leaders need to take action.

“We have heard for a year now elected officials say things like ‘hate has no place in Canada’ but at the same time there are groups that take to our streets that wave the flags of terrorist organizations,” he said.

“Until elected officials lead on this with actions like targeting some of these groups and starting to ask serious questions about whether or not they should be permitted to continue to act in Canada …ensure that things like violent protests are not allowed to take place outside of community centres or outside of schools or senior centres or places of worship or even hospitals.”

With files from the Canadian Press and Rhianne Campbell.

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