Shots fired at US consulate in Toronto for a second time this year

What the report says

BBC World News reports that Toronto police are investigating after a gunshot was fired at the U.S. consulate early Monday, marking the second such incident at the site this year. According to police, an officer posted outside the building heard one shot at about 04:45 local time and saw a white car with no licence plate leave the area. Officers pursued the vehicle briefly at high speed but stopped the chase because of safety concerns. No injuries were reported.

Investigators said they found one shell casing and damage to the consulate’s facade. Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said at least two people were inside the consulate, though the building is heavily fortified and those inside may not have heard the shot. Police have not said how many people may have been involved, and the suspect or suspects remain at large. The Toronto Police Service is working with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and international law enforcement partners.

The incident follows a March shooting outside the same consulate, after which police described the matter as a national security incident and stationed officers at the building. BBC reports that three people were arrested in June in connection with that earlier attack, which investigators have linked to a wider gun-for-hire network. A Toronto police officer, Const. Marc Pinizzotto, was killed during raids connected to that investigation.

Officials have not identified a motive in Monday’s shooting. Police also said there is currently no established link to separate weekend attacks on two Jewish-owned bakeries in Toronto, though they have not ruled one out. The U.S. consulate thanked police for their response.