Toronto police are investigating after gunfire was directed at the U.S. Consulate in downtown Toronto early Tuesday morning.
Authorities say shots were fired toward the building near University Avenue and Queen Street West at approximately 5:30 a.m. No injuries have been reported, and police have not yet released details about any suspects.
As officers continue to examine the scene, southbound University Avenue has been closed between Queen and Dundas streets to allow investigators to collect evidence.
Security experts say the consulate does have protective measures in place, but it does not operate with the same level of security as the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa. Former Ontario Provincial Police commissioner and CTV safety analyst Chris Lewis noted that while the building is monitored, it does not typically have armed personnel stationed outside at all times.
Lewis explained that the facility likely relies on surveillance cameras and staff monitoring systems around the clock, with heightened security typically in place during regular operating hours when visitors are present.
Investigators are now following standard procedures, including collecting forensic evidence, reviewing nearby surveillance footage, and canvassing the area for potential witnesses.
Lewis suggested the timing of the shooting indicates the perpetrator may have deliberately acted when the building was largely empty.
“They knew they weren’t going to jeopardize lives,” he said, adding that the incident appears to have been intended as a symbolic act.
He also noted that the shooting is likely to draw international attention, particularly amid rising global tensions related to ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Police have not said whether the shooting is believed to be politically motivated, but investigators are working to determine who carried out the attack and what message they intended to send.
