Toronto Jewish community on edge after gel pellet gun attack

Jewish community leaders in Toronto are concerned after a suspected hate-motivated incident on Thursday in which a suspect fired a gel pellet gun at visibly Jewish residents in a drive-by attack.

Police are still on the lookout for the suspect, who drove a blue SUV while shooting an “Orbeez-type” replica gun firing gel beads. The victims sustained minor injuries. The suspect fled the scene, and investigators released footage of the vehicle yesterday.

The attack occurred in an area with several synagogues and Jewish schools.

The incident reflects an “escalation” in antisemitic violence in Ontario, says the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto.

“These targeted attacks are intended to threaten our community and force us to hide our identity,” the group writes in a statement.

The country is facing “a wave of violent extremism and radicalization” threatening public safety, adds the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

The attack came several days after B’nai Brith Canada reported that acts of anti-Jewish hate reached a record high in 2025, with 6,800 such incidents reported nationwide.