Gunfire hits U.S. Consulate in Toronto; no injuries reported
Gunfire struck the U.S. Consulate in downtown Toronto early Tuesday, damaging the building’s glass and front door, according to officials. No injuries were reported, but the case is being treated as a national security incident.
Toronto police said officers responded at 5:29 a.m. to the consulate, in the area of University Avenue and Queen Street West, after receiving a call about the shooting. At a press briefing, officials said the gunfire may have happened as early as 4:29 a.m.
According to police, a white Honda CR-V was traveling west on Dundas Street West, turned south onto University Avenue and stopped in front of the U.S. Consulate. Two men got out of the vehicle, fired multiple rounds at the building, then got back inside and drove south on University Avenue.
When officers arrived, they found shell casings and evidence of gunfire, including damage to the building’s glass and door, police said. People were inside the consulate at the time, but no one was hurt.
Tornto police released an image of the suspect vehicle and said they are working to identify witnesses, review surveillance video and gather additional evidence.
Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said the shooting is being treated as a national security incident. He said investigators have not determined whether it was an act of terrorism and that formal communication has taken place with Canadian federal authorities and U.S. counterparts, including the FBI.
“The shots fired toward the United States Consulate in Toronto early this morning are a reprehensible act of violence and attempt at intimidation,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement. “I am relieved that no one was injured.”
The shooting comes days after an explosion at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway. Norwegian police that the blast was caused by an improvised device placed at the building’s entrance, causing minor damage but no injuries. Police have said it was possible the explosion was an act of terrorism, though no motive has been established.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
