Shots fired at U.S. consulate in Toronto, Canada, officials say

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Someone fired shots at the U.S. consulate in Toronto early Tuesday morning, authorities said, though there were no reports of injuries or damage.

"The shooting that took place at the U.S. consulate early this morning is an absolutely unacceptable act of violence and intimidation aimed at our American friends and neighbours," Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a social media post. "I'm glad to see that the Toronto Police are investigating and I expect that police at all levels will bring every resource to bear to find the people who did this."

"We will do whatever it takes to prosecute and punish the people responsible to the fullest extent of the law," Ford said.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said at a news conference on Tuesday that witnesses reported seeing a white Honda CRV stop in front of the U.S. Consulate early in the morning, and that "two individuals emerged from the vehicle, discharged what appears to be a handgun at the front of the building, and then got back into their vehicle and drove southbound."

He stressed that there was "no indication of an immediate threat to public safety at this time."

"It's definitely a national security incident because we have the U.S. consulate, after all, struck by gunfire," he said. "Whether it's a terrorist event or not, that will be subject to the investigation that will be undertaken in the coming days and weeks, and that will be based on the evidence that's collected both here at the scene and subsequently through the work with our partners."

Shooting outside the U.S. Consulate in Toronto

He said officials were in touch with their U.S. counterparts, the consulate and the FBI about the matter.

Leather added, "I don't have any information to provide at this time on any sleeper cells that may or may not exist in Canada. Suffice to say that our CSIS [Canadian Security Intelligence Service] counterparts and the incidents across the country are actively investigating matters such as this, and we will continue to do so."

A State Department spokesperson told CBS News the U.S. was aware of the incident and closely monitoring the situation in coordination with local law enforcement, but had no further comment.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the gunfire "a reprehensible act of violence and attempt at intimidation" and said, "I am relieved that no one was injured." In a statement posted on X, he said police and federal agencies will get the resources they need "to ensure that the perpetrators of these violent acts are identified and brought to the full weight of justice."

The shooting came just days after two synagogues were hit by overnight gunfire in the greater Toronto area, prompting an increased police presence. Police said there were no injuries from those incidents, either, but bullet holes were found in the front door of one synagogue.

Carney said the shootings at the synagogues were an assault on the rights of Jewish Canadians to live and pray in safety, and he promised to protect places of worship.

It was unclear if the firing at the synagogues and the shots fired outside the U.S. consulate were linked to each other, or the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

Canadian broadcaster CTV said there were road closures in place in downtown Toronto, and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said there was a heavy police presence at both the U.S. and Israeli consulates in the city.

"This morning the U.S. consulate was shot at. This comes after shootings at synagogues over the past two weekends. This cannot stand," Chow told reporters ahead of a city council meeting. "Toronto's Jewish community has the right to practice their faith and culture and to live their day to day lives without fear, intimidation or violence."

Chow said police were investigating and had the full support of her office in "finding the people responsible and bringing them to justice."

Olivia Gazis contributed to this report.

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