Authorities are investigating a targeted shooting at the United States Consulate in downtown Toronto early Tuesday morning, an incident that local leaders are calling a dangerous escalation of political violence.
Toronto Police responded to reports of gunfire at the consulate, located at University Avenue and Queen Street West, at approximately 5:29 a.m. While officials initially confirmed only “evidence of a firearm discharge” at the scene, visual reports from CBC revealed multiple bullet holes piercing the glass of the building’s front doors.
Breaking: Shots have been fired at the US Consulate, on University Avenue, in Toronto reportedly around 5:30 this morning.
"there are bullet holes in the glass door, the front door of the building." pic.twitter.com/OBlpNSgVyK
— cbcwatcher (@cbcwatcher) March 10, 2026
No injuries were reported, and it remains unclear how many staff members were inside the high-security facility at the time of the attack.
The shooting has triggered a swift and forceful response from Canadian officials, who linked the attack to a disturbing wave of antisemitic violence across the greater Toronto area. This incident follows a harrowing week in which three synagogues — two in North York and one in Vaughan — were struck by gunfire. Federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree described seeing bullet holes through “three layers” of one synagogue, saying the violence is “not the Canadian way.”
The shooting has triggered a swift and forceful response from Canadian officials. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow linked the attack to a disturbing trend of local violence tied to international conflicts.
“This morning the U.S. consulate was shot at. This comes after shootings at synagogues over the past two weekends. This cannot stand,” Chow told reporters. She emphasized that the city’s Jewish community and international partners have the right to live without fear, noting that “anti-Semitic incidents spike when international tensions rise.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford echoed these sentiments, describing the shooting as an “absolutely unacceptable act of violence and intimidation aimed at our American friends and neighbors.” Ford called for a zero-tolerance approach, urging law enforcement at all levels to “bring every resource to bear” to prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.
The Toronto Police Service is currently working alongside the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to process the scene. A heavy police presence remains at both the U.S. and Israeli consulates as a precautionary measure.
Former OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis noted that while the consulate lacks the permanent, heavy-armed presence of the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, it is heavily monitored by 24-hour surveillance.
“They are making an obvious statement here,” Lewis said, attributing the motive to “anti-U.S. sentiments” fueled by ongoing volatility in the Middle East.
Southbound University Avenue remained closed Tuesday morning as forensic teams scoured the area for evidence. Police are urging anyone with dashcam footage or information regarding the incident to contact investigators immediately.
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