Agadir – The US Consulate in Toronto was targeted by gunfire early Monday, marking the second shooting incident involving the diplomatic building this year, according to local authorities.
Toronto police said officers responded after receiving reports of a gunshot at around 4:46 a.m. and found evidence that a firearm had been discharged outside the consulate on University Avenue.
Authorities recovered a shell casing near the building and discovered damage to the front of the consulate. Police said no injuries were reported following the incident.
Toronto Deputy Police Chief Frank Barredo said an officer assigned to the consulate’s security detail heard the gunshot and later noticed a vehicle leaving the area. Police briefly pursued the vehicle but ended the chase due to its high speed.
Investigators are now searching for a white sedan, identified as a Honda Accord, believed to have been involved in the incident. Police said they have not yet determined how many people were inside the vehicle or established a possible motive.
The shooting comes months after another attack targeting the same building. On March 10, several shots were fired at the US Consulate, following a series of separate shootings in Toronto.
Following those incidents, Canadian authorities increased security around US and Israeli diplomatic facilities in Toronto, Canada’s largest city.
Authorities continue to investigate Monday’s shooting as they work to identify those responsible and determine the motive behind the attack.
