Toronto Restaurant Shot During Passover

0:00Early Friday morning, just before 1.30 a.m., Toronto police rushed to Avenue Road and Brook Avenue in North York after reports of gunshots. They found the front of old Avenue restaurant in Bakery riddled with bullet holes. The place got partially boarded up by Saturday, but luckily no one was hurt. Police handed it to their guns and gangs unit, with extra officers patrolling the area right away. The owner, who's outspoken against anti-Semitism and asked to stay unnamed for safety, think chief Myron Demkew for the quick response. This all went down during the Jewish holiday of Passover. The Israeli Embassy in Canada slammed it as the latest in a wave of anti-Semitism hitting Jewish spots here. They urged Prime Minister Mark Carney, public safety minister Gary Anandasangari, premiered Doug Ford, and Mayor Olivia Chow to step up against a growing threat. It's part of a pattern, three synagogues got shot up in the GTA back in March, and this restaurant faced attacks before, including one last month at its second spot.

1:03On the police side, chief Demkew announced a new counterterrorism task force called Guardian. Expect to see tactical teams with semi-automatic rifles around synagogues, community centers, and busy areas. Patrols ramped up near Jewish sites during Passover amid tensions from Middle East conflicts. These incidents highlight the real risks building in our communities, so stay aware as investigations push forward and security tightens. That's the story for today. Canada News Today, Driven by AI