‘Enough is enough’: Shots fired at Toronto Jewish school for the third time since May

December 20, 2024 Canuck

A Jewish elementary school in Toronto has been struck by gunfire for the third time in the last eight months.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, police said they were called to Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School on Chesswood Drive, located in the area of Dufferin Street and Finch Avenue West, shortly after 2:30 a.m. Friday morning.

Officers said there was evidence of firearm discharge, but did not provide further details about the incident. They added that no injuries have been reported.

“My office has been in contact with Toronto Police since early this morning. The police are investigating reports of gunfire in the proximity of Bais Chaya Mushka school. Some damage to the school was sustained and no injuries have been reported,” Mayor Olivia Chow said in a statement.

Chow lambasted the recent incident, saying “enough is enough.”

“Antisemitism and antisemitic attacks have no place in Toronto,” the mayor wrote.

The Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force is investigating with support from the Hate Crime Unit.

About two months ago, gunfire rang out at the building in the early morning on Oct. 12 – on the day of Yom Kippur, known as the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Nobody was inside the school at that time and no injuries were reported.

The school was also hit with gunfire in May in a similar incident. In this case, police surveillance footage showed a dark-coloured vehicle pulling up to the school at around 4:50 a.m. before two suspects dressed in dark clothing exited the vehicle and started using their firearms at the school.

Two people were arrested in connection with the October incident, a 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old who cannot be named under the terms of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Both were charged with multiple offences.

It is unclear at this time if there is any connection between the incidents.

In October, Premier Doug Ford and Mayor Olivia Chow went to the school to show their support. Ford called the incident “unacceptable” and a “disgusting act of antisemitism.”

On Friday, Chow said every single antisemitic act is “one too many” in the city.

“The students and community of Bais Chaya Mushka have the right to learn and teach in a safe environment, free from hate and violence,” Chow said, adding she has faith in Toronto police to swiftly arrest those responsible.

Toronto police have logged a rise in anti-Semitic hate crimes since Oct. 7, the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

This past October, at a Toronto Police Services Board meeting, police confirmed there has been a 42.6 per cent increase in hate crimes since the same time last year. There has been a 74.5 per cent increase in hate crimes against the Jewish community and a 40 per cent increase in hate crimes against the Muslim community, according to the data.

With files from CP24’s Joshua Freeman

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