Canadian Authorities Hunt Suspect After Shooting at U.S. Diplomatic Mission

Canadian police are investigating a shooting outside the U.S. Consulate in downtown Toronto after a gunman opened fire on the diplomatic mission early Monday morning, marking the second shooting targeting the building this year. Authorities said no one was injured, but the incident has prompted heightened security and renewed concerns about attacks on diplomatic facilities.

According to the Toronto Police Service, an officer stationed near the consulate at 360 University Avenue heard a gunshot at approximately 4:46 a.m. local time. Responding officers discovered a spent shell casing and damage to the building’s façade consistent with a single gunshot. Two security personnel were inside the consulate at the time, but neither was injured.

Investigators said a white late-model Honda Accord without licence plates was seen speeding away from the scene immediately after the shooting. Officers launched a high-speed pursuit, but the chase was called off when the vehicle reached dangerous speeds, in line with police safety protocols. The suspect remains at large, and authorities have released images of the vehicle while appealing for witnesses and surveillance footage.

Deputy Police Chief Frank Barredo described the investigation as a top priority but declined to speculate on a motive, saying detectives are examining all possible leads. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow condemned the attack as a “brazen” act of violence and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.

The latest shooting comes just over four months after the same consulate was targeted in a separate gun attack on 10 March. That earlier incident was treated as a national security investigation, and Canadian authorities later announced arrests linked to the case. Investigators have previously suggested that several shootings across Toronto, including the attack on the U.S. Consulate, may be connected to a wider gun-for-hire network involving young recruits.

Following the March attack, security around U.S. and Israeli diplomatic buildings in Toronto was significantly strengthened. Monday’s shooting has renewed questions about the effectiveness of those measures and whether the latest incident is connected to the earlier attack or forms part of a broader pattern of politically or criminally motivated violence.

The U.S. Consulate thanked Toronto police for their swift response but did not immediately comment further on the investigation. Canadian and U.S. authorities are expected to continue working together as detectives seek to identify the gunman and determine the motive behind the attack.

Police have urged anyone with dashcam footage or information about the suspect vehicle to contact investigators. The area around the consulate was temporarily cordoned off while forensic teams collected evidence, and officials said there is no ongoing threat to the public.