On Wednesday, police forces across Canada responded to a series of identical bomb threats sent via email to over 100 Jewish organizations, including synagogues and hospitals. The nature of the threats prompted a coordinated response by several law enforcement agencies.
The threats were disseminated via email around 5 am EST, targeting a wide range of Jewish institutions and medical facilities. In response, police took precautionary measures to ensure public safety. In Toronto, several buildings were evacuated in North York as a precaution, and in Ottawa, various precautionary measures were undertaken at several hospitals.
The RCMP is leading the investigation, working closely with faith-based leaders to provide necessary information and support. Making a bomb threat is a criminal offense in Canada, as per the Criminal Code of Canada. Specifically, Section 82.6 makes it an offense to threaten to commit a terrorism-related crime, with penalties including imprisonment for up to 14 years. Additionally, Section 264.1 criminalizes conveying or causing any person to receive a threat.
Michael Levitt, President and CEO of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, called the threats “absolutely chilling” and emphasized that Canada’s Jewish Community has been raising alarms about escalating hatred and calls for violence against Jews in recent months. Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather also condemned the incident.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on X (formerly Twitter):
I’m disgusted at reports that more than 100 Jewish institutions across Canada were targeted by threats today. This is blatant antisemitism. The RCMP is in contact with local law enforcement to investigate, and we’re working with them to keep Jewish Canadians safe.
This incident comes amid a noted rise in antisemitism globally following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. In May, synagogues and a museum in New York also received similar bomb threats. Reports indicate a more than fourfold increase in antisemitic incidents in Germany since the start of the Gaza conflict, as noted in a recent report. Similar trends have been observed in France and Belgium, where antisemitic attacks have also notably risen. Meanwhile, US universities have witnessed increased tensions, leading to a formal investigation into the responses of institutions like Penn, Harvard, and MIT.