Another wild shooting incident has shaken Toronto's Jewish community, as three people were fired upon outside a synagogue Thursday night. The attack, which left one person with minor injuries, is being investigated as a hate-motivated crime. This marks the second time in a week that a replica gun has been used to target Jewish individuals from a moving vehicle.
Details of the Attack
The shooting occurred at approximately 10:49 p.m. on May 7, 2026, outside the Congregation Chasedei Bobov at 3703 Bathurst St., near Wilson Avenue. Three individuals standing in front of the synagogue were shot at from a passing vehicle using a replica firearm. One person was struck and sustained minor injuries. Toronto Police have confirmed that the incident is being treated as a hate-motivated offence.
Rising Fear in the Community
Meir Weinstein of Israel Now described the situation as "open season on Jews," while Richard Robertson, B'nai Brith Canada's director of research and advocacy, called the attack "terrorism." Robertson emphasized that targeting an identifiable group to instill fear constitutes terrorism and demanded immediate action. "Something needs to give here," he said, noting the unacceptable frequency of antisemitic attacks.
Official Responses
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) condemned the violence, stating: "This is not normal, and it cannot become normalized. Individuals were targeted outside a Jewish institution and subjected to intimidation and violence because of who they are and where they were." CIJA urged governments, law enforcement, and civic leaders to treat these incidents with the seriousness they deserve and ensure accountability.
Disturbing Trend
This shooting follows a similar incident on April 30, 2026, in the Bathurst Street and Lawrence Avenue West area, where a suspect discharged a replica firearm at visibly Jewish victims from a blue SUV. Additionally, there have been three synagogue shootings in March, countless vandalism at Jewish-owned businesses, and a recent execution-style killing of a Jewish man in a nearby park—though police have not yet revealed a motive in that murder.
Witnesses have reported seeing a vehicle matching the description of the blue SUV near the latest shooting scene. Police have arrested a teenager in connection with the March synagogue shootings but have not confirmed any arrests in this case. The Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force is leading the investigation.
Call for Action
Community leaders are demanding urgent measures to address the escalating violence. "Governments, law enforcement, and civic leaders must treat these incidents with the seriousness they deserve," CIJA reiterated. As Toronto faces this wave of antisemitic attacks, many are asking when the violence will end.
