Police call shots fired at US consulate in Canada a national security incident

Two men opened fire on the U.S. consulate in Toronto early Tuesday, an act police called a “national security incident”, leading to increased security at U.S. and Israeli diplomatic sites in the city.

The suspects arrived at the downtown consulate around 4:30 a.m. Eastern Time, got out of a white SUV and discharged several handgun rounds, Deputy Chief Frank Barredo of the Toronto Police told reporters.

People were inside at the time, but “the building is heavily secured and fortified, and no one was hurt,” Barredo said.

Chris Leather, chief superintendent of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said the shooting was “clearly a national‑security incident because the U.S. consulate was hit by gunfire”.

Leather added, “Whether it qualifies as a terrorist act will be determined by the investigation.”

He also said security measures are being tightened at U.S. and Israeli diplomatic premises in Toronto and in Ottawa, Canada’s capital.

“It is evident from the recent events in Toronto and elsewhere that these missions require heightened vigilance and protection right now,” Leather said.

Protesters had gathered outside the consulate last weekend to condemn the Middle‑East conflict sparked by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

In recent days three synagogues in the Toronto area have also been shot at, though no injuries were reported.

When asked if the synagogue attacks were linked to the consulate shooting, Barredo said it was “too early” to draw a connection, but noted, “We do not examine these incidents in isolation; we consider them together.”

Leather said the RCMP is cooperating with the FBI and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service on the consulate case.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the episode “an absolutely unacceptable act of violence and intimidation directed at our American friends and neighbours”.

He said, “All levels of government and Canadians must make clear that such threatening behaviour will not be tolerated.”

The U.S. State Department said it was aware of the incident and was monitoring the situation closely in coordination with local authorities.

The attack follows an improvised explosive device that detonated at the U.S. embassy in Oslo on Sunday; Norwegian police continue to search for a suspect, with a possible link to the Iran war among the lines of inquiry.