Someone fired shots at the US embassy in Toronto early Tuesday, authorities said, although there were no reports of injuries or damage.
“The shooting incident that took place in the American palace early this morning is an unacceptable act of violence and intimidation against our American friends,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a social media post. “I’m glad to see that the Toronto Police are investigating and I expect that the police at all levels will bring all resources to bear to find the people who did this.”
“We will do whatever it takes to prosecute and punish the people involved to the fullest extent of the law,” said Ford.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superintendent Chris Leather said at a press conference on Tuesday that witnesses reported seeing a white Honda CRV pull up in front of the US embassy this morning, and that “two people got out of the car, pulled out what appeared to be a gun in front of the building, then got back in their car and headed south.”
He emphasized that “there is no indication of a threat to public safety at this time.”
“Obviously there is official communication going on with our US partners, the FBI, the consulate itself here. We had members of the consulate here this morning, as well as the Toronto police, meeting with the staff here and their senior officer to discuss this incident,” Leather said. “I have no information to provide at this time on any sleeper cells that may or may not exist in Canada. Suffice it to say that our CSIS and Incident colleagues across the country are investigating stories like this, and we will continue to do so.”
“It’s definitely a national security incident because we have a US consulate that, after all, has been blown up. Whether it’s a terrorist incident or not, that will depend on the investigation that will be done in the coming days and weeks, and that will be based on the evidence gathered both here at the scene and afterwards through the use of staff and partners,” he said.
He did not say that there was any damage caused in the incident, and no injuries have been reported yet.
Kyaw Soe Oo/REUTERS
A State Department spokesperson told CBS News that the US is aware of the incident and is closely monitoring the situation with local law enforcement, but had no further comment.
The shooting comes days after two synagogues were bombed by gunfire overnight in the greater Toronto area, prompting an increased police presence. Police said there were no injuries in those incidents, but bullet holes were found in the front door of one synagogue.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the shootings at synagogues an attack on the rights of Jewish Canadians to live and pray in safety, and pledged to protect places of worship.
It was not clear whether the shootings at the synagogues and the shots fired outside the US embassy were connected, or ongoing. US-Israel war with Iran.
Canadian broadcaster CTV said the streets in downtown Toronto were closed, and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said there were many police officers at the American and Israeli embassies in the city.
“This morning the American ambassador was shot. This comes after the shooting at the synagogues two weekends ago. This cannot be tolerated anymore,” Chow told reporters before the city council meeting. “The Jewish community of Toronto has the right to practice their faith and culture and live their daily lives without fear, intimidation or violence.”
Chow said the police were investigating and had the full support of his office “to find the people responsible and bring them to justice.”
