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After two Jewish-owned bakeries in north Toronto were damaged over the weekend, police now say the incidents may have been connected, with the same SUV believed to be involved in both incidents.
The incidents happened within an hour of each other late Saturday and early Sunday at different locations of the same bakery chain, Toronto police said in a news release Monday. No injuries were reported in either case.
A dark-coloured SUV pulled up in front of both bakeries before their windows were smashed, including one by gunfire, police said. They believe it was the same vehicle in both cases.
The suspect vehicle first pulled up to the bakery near Bathurst Street and Steeles Avenue W. around 11:15 p.m. Saturday, police said. Moments later, the front glass of the bakery smashed and the SUV fled south on Carpenter Road.
At 12:15 a.m. that same night, the suspect vehicle pulled up in front of a bakery Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue W., police said. Someone fired shots at the bakery windows from the vehicle, breaking the glass.
WATCH | Toronto police investigating incidents that damaged 2 Jewish-owned bakeries:
Toronto police investigate after two incidents damage Jewish-owned bakery chain
Toronto police are investigating after two locations of a Jewish-owned bakery chain were damaged early Sunday morning, including one that was struck by gunfire. The hate crime unit and guns and gangs unit are investigating the incidents.
Police did not provide any information about possible suspects in Monday’s release.
Investigations into the incidents are being led by Toronto police’s integrated gun and gang task force, with support from the hate crime unit. Police are asking anyone with information or video of the incident to come forward.
Prime Minister Mark Carney posted about the incident on social media Monday, saying that Jewish Canadians deserve to able to live their lives free from hatred and intimidation.
“Canada’s government is absolute in our commitment to combatting the scourge of antisemitism,” he wrote.
“Law enforcement has my full support as they conduct a thorough investigation and hold those responsible to account.”
Multiple leaders from Toronto’s Jewish community said Sunday they and other Jewish residents were shaken by the incidents.
Duty Insp. Scott Bradbury said Sunday that police understand that Toronto’s Jewish community, as well as people who live and work near the bakeries, are concerned about what happened, and police “have all the resources available to thoroughly investigate this matter.”