Not so fast on dismissing anti-Semitism for being behind two weird fires in Toronto this week.
New video from a neighbour’s security camera in the second fire has changed the narrative that there is nothing to see here. There may very well be lots to see.
Two days, two mysterious fires. Both on Jewish targets.
One involved a school bus destined to take kids to Jewish summer school programs that was torched near a synagogue on Wilson Ave. The other was at the Jewish Leo Baeck Day School on Arlington Ave. on Tuesday at about 3:45 a.m.
So far, neither have been deemed a hate crime or terrorism. But the aftermath of these scenes make you wonder: Was it homeless people squatting for the night behind one or both of these bizarre blazes? Or were these planned attacks?
Whatever was behind them, what is undeniable is these are mysterious and curious events in a city facing rampant anti-Semitism for months.
Police, however, have not indicated that either of these two incidents are part of the scourge of anti-Semitism.
“We understand there is concern about a fire that occurred last night at Leo Baeck Day School,” said a statement from Toronto Police. “At 3:46 a.m., police responded to a call reporting a fire in an exterior storage shed being set by an under-housed individual for shelter. Toronto Fire services extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire is undetermined with no suspicious circumstances noted at the scene. The hate crime unit has been consulted and there is no evidence that this was motivated by hate. The investigation is ongoing.”
But this was before a neighbour of this school handed over a video to Rebel News that captures a shadowy male carrying bags at the time of the incident behind the school.
The neighbour told Rebel he had never seen this person there before.
This new information has Toronto Police indicating they are doing more work on this matter.
“We are reviewing video and speaking to witnesses as part of our investigation,” spokesperson Stephanie Sayer told the Toronto Sun. “It is too early in the investigation for us to release further information at this time. We hope to do so tomorrow (Wednesday).”
The school has cameras pointed down toward the location, which could also be helpful to determine if this was a homeless person living in a shed there or if this was someone who showed up with an accelerant.
Meanwhile, Jewish organizations were frustrated Tuesday by the perceived lack of interest being shown by politicians in these ongoing attacks.
“Last night, the Leo Baeck Day School was vandalized in a heinous act of arson,” said B’nai Brith Canada on X. “This attack is now part of a deplorable pattern of rising hate crimes against Jews in Toronto. Despite these now regular incidents, Mayor Olivia Chow has failed to take any substantial action to protect our community.
“Mayor Chow, step up now and take decisive action to ensure the safety and security of Jewish residents in Toronto. Our community cannot and will not stand by while our schools and places of worship are targeted. Enough is enough.”
Meir Weinsten of Israel Now said he believes Toronto Police will be putting out a new statement on Wednesday.
Avi Abraham Benlolo, founder and CEO of The Abraham Global Peace Initiative, and Councillor James Pasternak recorded a video on social media expressing their deep concern and asking that this be probed more rigorously.
It needs to be.
Now that there is a video out there showing someone near the school and Toronto Police said they are reviewing it. Toronto Police need to update their original statement of there being no hate crime suspected when it is clear this probe is far from complete.
Hopefully, forensics are considered to see if there are any links between the incidents involving the school bus and the school.
In light of the ongoing scourge of anti-Semitic attacks on schools and businesses, including shooting into one, it’s not a stretch to think there could be more to this.
Meanwhile, York Regional Police are also hard at work trying to solve a string of vandalism and anti-Semitic graffiti being left behind.
“We are committed to strengthening our local Jewish community in the face of rising hate, the latest example of which is the shameful targeting of multiple Jewish sites and businesses in Vaughan with anti-Semitic graffiti,” said Jeff Rosenthal, chair of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, and Adam Minsky, president and CEO of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.
“Every act of anti-Jewish hate only redoubles our determination to stand proudly as Jews — and continue standing up for what’s right. Through UJA Community Security, we are co-ordinating with law enforcement to support their investigations into these disturbing incidents. We encourage anyone who has information or camera footage that may help identify a perpetrator to call police without delay.”
What all of this seems to be is terrorism. And no amount of downplaying these incidents is going to make them go away.