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Toronto Jewish Community Faces Arson and Vandalism Incidents

Police investigate burned school bus and anti-Israel graffiti; no evidence of hate crime in school fire

Leo Baeck day school fire
A protester places a Palestinian flag at a pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University, in New York, Sunday, April 28, 2024, advocating for financial disclosure and divestment from all companies tied to Israel and calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Overview

  • A school bus in a Jewish neighborhood was destroyed by arson, and multiple Jewish sites were vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti.
  • Toronto police are investigating the bus fire as a possible hate crime, but the fire at Leo Baeck Day School is not considered hate-motivated.
  • The Hate Crime Unit has been consulted for both incidents, but no evidence suggests the school fire was driven by hate.
  • Local politicians and Jewish groups condemn the acts as antisemitic and call for accountability.
  • No injuries were reported in either incident, and investigations are ongoing.