Toronto police arrest two in US Consulate shooting investigation

Toronto police have announced two arrests in connection with a shooting at the United States Consulate in Toronto last month. Investigators said the case is being treated as a national security incident, and they believe the suspects were recruited through an encrypted messaging app and paid to carry out violent acts. Police said the shooting was the second attack on the diplomatic mission in five months.

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Authorities said the arrests were made on Thursday and involved a 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy. The adult suspect has been identified as Xen-Ul-Abdeen Syed and faces multiple firearm, arson and stolen-property charges, as well as a charge of attacking the premises of an internationally protected person. The younger suspect has also been charged, but cannot be identified under Canadian law.

Police said the investigation remains active and that public interest in who is behind the attacks is a key focus. The July shooting followed an earlier attack on March 10, which also took place before dawn and did not injure anyone. Police said two people were arrested in that case in June.

After the March incident, security was increased around United States and Israeli diplomatic buildings in several Canadian cities, reflecting wider concern linked to the war in the Middle East. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has also opened a parallel investigation into the shooting. The latest incident adds to concerns about the use of online platforms to commission violent crime.

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Toronto Police Chief Superintendent Joe Matthews said investigators believe shootings, homicides and arsons are increasingly being arranged through online apps, with suspects offered different amounts of money depending on the offence. Police described the people involved as "criminals for hire," a phrase that underlines the organised nature of the alleged recruitment. The case also raises questions about the security of diplomatic sites in major cities and the ability of police to deter repeat attacks.

According to police, the July 27 shooting happened at about 4:46am local time, when a white Honda Accord pulled alongside the consulate and a single shot was fired, striking the front of the building. Officers said a marked police cruiser was already stationed nearby, but the vehicle fled and a brief chase was later called off because it was travelling at excessive speed. No one was injured in either the March or July shootings, but the repeated targeting of the same mission has made the case a significant one for Canadian law enforcement.

What remains unclear is who directed the attacks and whether the arrests will lead investigators to others involved in planning or financing them. Police said the source of the crimes remains a central question, and they have not publicly identified any wider network. The next developments are likely to come from the ongoing court process and from any further findings by Toronto police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

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