A single gunshot fired near the U.S. Consulate in Toronto on Monday morning prompted a police response; fortunately no one was injured.
The officer outside the building heard the sound around 04:45 local time and observed a white Honda Accord without a licence plate speeding away. Police launched a high‑speed chase that was cut short for safety reasons.
This is the second consulate shooting this year, following an earlier March incident that led to arrests linked to a broader gun‑for‑hire network. That same month, police carried out raids in which Officer Marc Pinizzotto was killed.
Investigators, assisted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and international law‑enforcement partners, recovered a shell casing and noted damage to the building’s façade. Deputy Chief Franklin Barredo said the structure is heavily fortified and those inside likely did not hear the shot.
City officials described the incident as “troubling” and “brazen.” Police have been standing guard outside the consulate since March, monitoring for suspects. The RCMP maintains that the investigation is ongoing and that the city will bring those responsible to justice.
U.S. officials have detained an Iraqi national, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al‑Saadi, who was alleged to have planned attacks on Jewish institutions and U.S. interests, including the Toronto consulate. Although police have not confirmed any link between al‑Saadi and the latest shooting, the possibility of an international crime ring remains.
The U.S. Consulate publicly thanked Toronto police for their rapid response. Meanwhile, earlier that weekend, two Jewish‑owned bakeries were targeted, one by gunfire, though investigators say no link to the consulate shooting has been established.
