Youth being recruited to carry out shootings against Jewish, US targets, Toronto police chief says
Young people are being recruited to carry out shootings around Toronto, including attacks on Jewish schools, synagogues, and the US consulate, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said Tuesday.
Demkiw provided an update on several firearm discharge investigations, including the March 10, 2026 shooting at the US consulate and the killing of a veteran Toronto police officer last week during a raid tied to the shootings.
He said police have identified a recurring pattern in these and other incidents involving Jewish institutions: “criminals for hire.”
According to Demkiw, young people are recruited through encrypted messaging apps to attack various targets and are required to film the shootings in order to be paid.
Police, working with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are still investigating who is behind the scheme.
“I know there’s been a lot of reporting about criminal groups and foreign actors, but we are still working actively to determine who is responsible for orchestrating these criminal acts,” Demkiw said.
He added that those directing the attacks appear intent on creating fear, including within the Jewish community.
When asked which apps are being used to recruit youth, Chief Supt. Joe Matthews said investigators have identified WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal so far, and expect to uncover more.
Matthews said the networks “for sure” extend beyond Toronto and are national, if not international. He described the cases as highly complex and said police are backing legislative reforms that would allow court-authorized interception of encrypted communications.
