In brief
Police in Toronto heard a single gunshot at 04:45 Monday morning, followed a white Honda Accord that fled the scene. No injuries were reported and a high‑speed chase was cut short by safety concerns. The event is the second this year targeting the consulate, after a March attack linked to a gun‑for‑hire network. With the RCMP and international partners on the case, officials urge vigilance as investigations continue into possible foreign ties and motives.
Police in Toronto are investigating after a gunshot was fired at the US consulate in the city – the second time this year such an incident has happened.
Early on Monday morning an officer stationed outside the consulate building heard a single gunshot and noticed a white Honda Accord without a licence plate fleeing the scene. The authorities launched a brief high‑speed chase, stopping it for safety reasons. No injuries were reported, and the building sustained only minor facade damage and a shell casing was recovered.
The shooting follows a March incident in which shots were fired outside the building, described by the police as a “national security incident.” Three individuals were arrested then, linked to a larger gun‑for‑hire network, and in June a police raid related to the shooting resulted in the death of Const Marc Pinizzotto and the arrest of teenagers suspected of multiple shootings.
Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo noted that at least two people were inside the consulate when the gunshot occurred, but the building’s heavy fortification likely kept occupants unaware of the shot.
The RCMP and international law‑enforcement partners are assisting the investigation. A spokesman called the incident “another troubling event,” while the city’s mayor Olivia Chow described it as “brazen.”
The US consulate publicly thanked Toronto police for their response. While the case hasn’t yet identified a motive, officials remain cautious of broader links to foreign actors targeting U.S. and Jewish sites.
