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Gunfire at Kiva’s
Toronto police are investigating suspected hate-motivated attacks on two Jewish-owned Kiva’s Bagel Bar locations, with one storefront hit by gunfire and the other damaged by a broken window.
“Toronto police investigate after two incidents damage Jewish-owned bakery chain Toronto police are investigating after two separate locations of a Jewish-owned bakery chain reported damage, with one hit by gunfire, on Sunday morning”
Officers were first called to the Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue West area shortly after 8 a.m. after reports of a shattered window, and investigators found evidence that a firearm had been discharged but no injuries were reported.
Less than 20 minutes later, police responded to another Kiva’s location about 14 kms north near Bathurst Street and Steeles Avenue West after reports of a broken window, and police found no evidence of gunfire or injuries at that location.
Toronto Police Duty Insp. Scott Bradbury said investigators believe the attacks are connected, telling reporters, “Right now, we don’t know what the connection is other than that it’s the same Jewish-owned business chain and that it happened sometime overnight.”
Chow condemns hate
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow condemned the incidents as “vile and unacceptable,” and said “Any kind of hate really has no place in Toronto,” while linking the response to Toronto Police’s Project Resolute guarding synagogues and Jewish community centres 24/7.
Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said residents should be able to “go and have breakfast with their families at a neighbourhood restaurant without having to be confronted with police tape while investigating a shooting here in our city.”
CBC Toronto reported Duty Insp. Scott Bradbury said officers found evidence of a shooting only at the first location near Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue W., and there were no reported injuries at either scene.
CityNews Toronto quoted Bradbury saying police “Right now we don’t know what the connection is, other than it’s the same Jewish-owned business chain and that it happened sometime overnight,” as the Hate Crime Unit and Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force investigated.
Security and investigation
Police said they are canvassing both areas for evidence, with the Toronto Police Hate Crime Unit, Guns and Gangs Integrated Task Force, and local officers on the ground as the investigation continues.
“Two Jewish-owned bagel shops in Toronto were damaged Sunday in incidents now under investigation by the Toronto Police Service’s Hate Crime Unit”
The Canadian Jewish News reported Bradbury said Torontonians can expect an increased police presence around the targeted locations as they continue to investigate, along with “our continued presence at other faith establishments across the city.”
In a separate statement, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said the attacks come amid a broader rise in violent extremism across Canada and other Western democracies, describing a “toxic brew of antizionist rhetoric, local criminal elements, Iranian-backed proxies and ISIS-inspired terrorism.”
B’nai Brith Canada said the attacks are evidence of a “systemic national crisis” that governments can no longer address through statements of concern, temporary security measures, and responses issued only after another Jewish institution has been targeted.
