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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 responded to reports of a bakery with a damaged window due to gunshots near Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue W., Toronto police said on social media platform X.
They said another location of the same chain, near Bathurst Street and Steeles Avenue W., had reports of a broken window, but not by gunfire.
Duty Insp. Scott Bradbury said at a news conference that officers found evidence of a shooting only at the first location and that there were no reported injuries at either place. He said the hate crime unit and guns and gangs unit are investigating.
“We understand that this is concerning for those that work and live in this area, especially members of the Jewish community, and we have all the resources available to thoroughly investigate this matter,” he said.
Residents can expect an increased police presence as the investigation continues.
Bradbury said investigators are not yet certain if both incidents are connected, but noted that both bakeries are part of the same chain.
He urged anyone with information or video evidence to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
Incident ‘shattered’ sense of peace in residents
“It’s alarming for residents heading over to grab bagels on a Sunday morning to instead be greeted by police tape,” said Noah Shack, CEO with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.
He said the joy and feeling of security amongst community members was “shattered” along with the windows, as the bakeries are closed during the police investigation.
“There has been increasingly more incidents targeting the Jewish community across the city, country and world,” said Shack.
“Thankfully no one was injured … but of course concern [is there] about how this could continue to escalate,” he said.
“This has to be a country of peace, order and good governance and that has to be our north star in driving the response to this incident.”
Some GTA synagogues were hit with gunfire earlier this year and led to police arresting suspects related to the cases.
