Firearm discharged at Jewish school in Toronto on Yom Kippur

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Shots were fired at a Jewish elementary school in Toronto on Saturday, on the morning of Yom Kippur, Judaism’s holiest day of the year.

According to police, the incident occurred just after 4 a.m. near the school, located at Dufferin St. and Finch Ave. A motor vehicle “discharged a firearm at the Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School,” police said in a post on X.

Police found evidence of gunfire at the scene. It was not known how many suspects were in the vehicle.

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The school was empty when a window was smashed after being hit by a bullet, according to Insp. Paul Krawczyk, the Canadian Press reported. There were no injuries. Police will continue to have an increased presence in the area, he said.

“We understand the fear and pain this causes, especially on Yom Kippur,” police said in another post on X Saturday afternoon. “To Toronto’s Jewish community: We stand with you.”

Police urged residents to share any relevant videos or dash-cam footage of the area with authorities.

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Michael Westcott, CEO of Allies for a Strong Canada, said in a statement to the National Post over email that the incident was the “latest in a long string of violent, hateful attacks on institutions in the Jewish community.”

While our hearts are broken, our resolve is strong

Michael Westcott

“While our hearts are broken, our resolve is strong. The time for action is now. Today and this weekend we will hear from elected officials decrying the violence with blanket statements such as ‘hate has no place here’ without putting any meaningful action behind their words,” he said.

“Without real action from our leaders we are only going to see a further escalation of violence. Unless and until there are consequences for those who support and condone violence against the Jewish community, we are only going to continue to see this rising tide of hatred continue. It is long past time for our leaders to lead.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commented about the incident on X on Saturday, saying he was “disturbed.”

“As we wait for more details, my heart goes out to the students, staff, and parents who must be terrified and hurting today,” he said.

“Antisemitism is a disgusting and dangerous form of hate — and we won’t let it stand.”

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Thornhill’s People’s Party Candidate Amir Hart also posted about the incident on X.

“This is the second time this school has been targeted by the bullets of terrorists,” he said.

“This sadistic intimidation of innocent children and families goes beyond any debates. This is terrorism. We must come together as a community, regardless of ethnicity and religion, and unite against these sadistic extremists which are looking for an excuse to commit terrorism.”

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Earlier this year, a similar incident took place at the school. Shots were fired at Bais Chaya by two suspects on May 25, police said, Global News reported.

The UJA Federation of Greater Toronto said they were aware of the incident, and would be releasing a statement after Yom Kippur.

On Yom Kippur, known as a day of atonement, Jews do not eat or drink in order to focus on praying and asking for forgiveness.

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