Visibly Jewish Toronto residents were shot with a gel pellet gun in a Thursday drive-by incident, according to the Toronto Police Service.
The victims sustained minor injuries after they were shot with the replica firearm, and the suspect fled in their vehicle.
TPS published footage of the suspect's vehicle on Saturday in the hopes that the public could aid in identification. The investigation is treating the incident as a "hate-motivated offense."
United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto said in a Saturday statement that the incident reflected an escalation of antisemitic violence, following several incidents in Ontario.
"There can be no ambiguity about the motive. These targeted attacks are intended to threaten our community and force us to hide our identity, said UJA Federation. "It won’t work. We are resilient, strong, and determined to live our Jewish lives freely and openly."
Ten percent increase in antisemitic incidents since 2024
The incidents mentioned by UJA Federation included last Saturday's assault against a Jewish man in Vaughan by a man who had attempted to force his way into a local synagogue. According to UJA Federation Toronto, the following day a Jewish store, Aleph Bet Judaica was vandalized. A stone was thrown through the Judaica shop's window.
The Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs said on X on Saturday that action needed to be taken before such attacks evolved into terrorist incidents like those recently seen in Australia, the UK, and the US.
"Our country is facing a wave of violent extremism and radicalization - one that threatens more than a single community," said CIJA. "It endangers the personal safety and democratic values of all Canadians."
The incident also comes just days after B'nai Brith Canada published its Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents for the year 2025, which indicated an almost 10 percent increase in incidents from the previous year, and almost a 150 percent rise since before the October 7 Massacre.
Mathilda Heller contributed to this report.