Canadian authorities hunt suspect after shooting at US diplomatic mission

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

According to the Toronto Police Service, an officer stationed near the consulate University Avenue 360 heard a gunshot around 4:46 a.m. local time.

The responding officers discovered an exploded bullet casing and damage to the facade of the building consistent with a single gunshot. Two security officers were inside the consulate at the time, but neither of them was injured.

Investigators said a late-model white Honda Accord with no license plates was seen speeding away from the scene shortly after the shooting. Officers launched a high-speed chase, but the pursuit 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 as they appeal for witnesses and surveillance footage.

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

The latest shooting comes just over four months after the same consulate was targeted in a separate shooting attack on March 10. That earlier incident was treated as a national security investigation, and Canadian authorities later announced arrests linked to the case. Investigators had previously suggested that several shootings in Toronto, including the attack on the US consulate, could be linked to a larger mercenary network involving young recruits.

Since the March attack, security around U.S. and Israeli diplomatic buildings in Toronto has been significantly tightened. Monday’s shooting renewed questions about the effectiveness of such measures and whether the latest incident is linked to the previous attack or part of a broader pattern of politically or criminally motivated violence.

The U.S. Consulate thanked Toronto police for their quick response but had no further comment on the investigation. Canadian and U.S. authorities are expected to continue working together as investigators try to identify the gunman and determine the motive for the attack.

Police are urging anyone with dash cam 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 was no ongoing threat to the public.