On Sunday, two bagel shops owned by Jewish individuals in Toronto were vandalized, prompting an investigation by the Hate Crime Unit of the Toronto Police Service.
According to police, both Kiva’s bakery locations were targeted in the morning, with one shop sustaining damage to its window from gunfire, as detailed in a statement posted on X. The other location also had a window damaged, but no signs of gunshots were discovered there.
“Investigators are currently looking into the possibility of a connection between the incidents and are attempting to identify those responsible,” the police stated. “No injuries have been reported.”
USdaily has contacted Kiva’s for a response regarding the attacks.
“We recognize that this situation is alarming for residents and workers in the area, particularly for members of the Jewish community, and we are committed to utilizing all available resources to thoroughly investigate this case,” Duty Inspector Scott Bradbury informed reporters on Sunday, as reported by CTV, a partner of USdaily.
The incidents have unsettled local residents who view these bakeries as essential parts of their community, frequenting them daily.
“We live close by, and this is our go-to place for food, making us feel threatened and insecure,” a local resident shared with CTV, expressing concerns that her community is being targeted.
Although residents feel disturbed, she noted that the bakery owners “have many people looking out for them right now.”
Marjan Mekis, a local resident who frequents the bakery for his daily pastry, described the attack as “extremely sad.”
“This feels very personal to me,” Mekis expressed. “I could have been inside, as could anyone in this neighborhood. It could have happened during the day rather than at night. Thankfully, no one was present, but what does it signify? Shooting at a bakery simply because of the owners’ Jewish identity.”
“It shouldn’t matter what faith you follow or what religion you practice,” he added. “Such actions are unacceptable.”
The damage to the two bakeries comes on the heels of a tragic shooting incident in Montreal that raised alarms within Jewish communities across Canada. In that episode, a gunman with writings that promoted antisemitic, misogynistic, and anti-capitalist violence opened fire, resulting in the deaths of two individuals: a police officer and an Israeli national who was a well-loved member of Montreal’s Jewish community. The assailant was also killed.
Earlier in June, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated in a speech delivered at a synagogue in Toronto that the nation is “failing” its Jewish citizens and promised to allocate tens of millions of dollars for enhancing security at places of worship.
Carney revealed that over two-thirds of religiously motivated hate crimes recorded last year were aimed at Jewish Canadians, with incidents of antisemitism involving gunfire at Jewish schools, assaults on community centers, and attacks on Jewish-owned businesses.
Since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, 2023, there has been a notable increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic actions worldwide.
This story has been updated.
