Toronto police are investigating after gunfire struck a synagogue in North York late Monday night, damaging the building and raising concerns about antisemitic violence in the city. Authorities say no one was injured in the incident, but the attack has intensified fears within the local Jewish community and prompted calls for swift accountability.
Officers were dispatched to Temple Emanu-El, located at 120 Old Colony Road near Bayview Avenue and Highway 401, at approximately 10:49 p.m. after reports of shots fired in the area. When police arrived, they discovered evidence that multiple rounds had struck the property.
Investigators placed numerous evidence markers across the synagogue’s driveway while documenting several bullet holes in the building’s front windows, visible from the street. Despite the damage, officials confirmed that no congregants or staff were inside the building at the time of the shooting, and no injuries were reported.
Toronto Police later confirmed they located “evidence of gunfire” and structural damage at the scene. At this stage of the investigation, however, authorities say they do not yet have suspect information. The department’s hate crime unit has now taken over the investigation as detectives work to determine whether the attack was motivated by antisemitism.
The overnight shooting at Temple Emanu-El Synagogue in North York is an unacceptable act of antisemitism and intimidation.
We will not tolerate antisemitic hate in our city. Toronto Police are investigating and will increase their presence in the area to keep the community and…
— Mayor Olivia Chow 🇨🇦 (@MayorOliviaChow) March 3, 2026
City leaders reacted quickly following the incident. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow condemned the shooting and described it as an act of intimidation against the city’s Jewish community.
“We will not tolerate antisemitic hate in our city,” Chow said in a statement. “Toronto Police are investigating and will increase their presence in the area to keep the community and congregants safe. Toronto’s Jewish community has the right to practice their faith without fear, intimidation or violence.”
Initial confusion briefly spread when reports suggested that another nearby synagogue, Kehillat Shaarei Torah, may also have been struck by gunfire. The building, located a short drive from Temple Emanu-El, has previously experienced vandalism incidents, including smashed windows and antisemitic graffiti.
However, police later clarified that the damage seen at the second synagogue was not related to Monday night’s shooting.
“There was no firearm discharge that occurred at this location this morning or last night,” a police spokesperson told reporters. The visible damage at the building was tied to an earlier incident from November, which remains part of a separate investigation.
Kehillat Shaarei Torah has reportedly been targeted at least ten times in recent years, reflecting a troubling pattern of harassment directed toward Jewish institutions in the area.
As investigators continue examining the scene at Temple Emanu-El, authorities are urging the public for help identifying whoever was responsible for the gunfire. Police are asking residents in the surrounding neighborhood to review security camera footage or dashcam video that might provide clues.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Toronto Police at 416-808-3300 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers.
