Four more people, including two teenagers, have been arrested in connection with two “targeted” incidents of shots being fired at Jewish people in North York a few weeks ago.
Toronto police announced the arrests on Wednesday and revealed they are still looking for two more suspects involved in the April 30 and May 7 incidents.
“These incidents were not random. Based on the evidence gathered during the investigation, we allege that members of the Jewish community were deliberately targeted,” Chief Superintendent Katherine Stephenson said at a news conference.
“These incidents appear to have been organized and planned with more than one individual involved in the coordination.”
In the first incident, a suspect in a blue Lexus SUV discharged an Orbeez-type gun at Jewish people in the area of Bathurst Street and Lawrence Avenue. The victims, police said, suffered minor injuries.
The other incident occurred outside the Congregation Chasidei Bobov synagogue near Bathurst Street and Highway 401. Three Jewish people were standing outside when someone in a blue Lexus SUV fired shots at them with an imitation firearm.
The two adult suspects have been identified as 20-year-old Luka Chokheli and 23-year-old Alishahin Isayev. The other two arrested suspects are a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old who cannot be named under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Each of them has been charged with three counts of assault with a weapon and one count of possession of a weapon.
Isayev and the girl are facing an additional charge of mischief interfere with property.
Police have not yet identified the two outstanding suspects, but they are believed to be youths.
Investigators previously announced that 18-year-old Ruslan Novruzov was taken into custody the day after the second incident. He was charged with assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
“Some were involved in the first incident, some in the second. There was commonality between the vehicle used and some of the suspects that linked this together,” Stephenson said.
“I can tell you that from the seven, they were organized and planned, and some of that planning even occurred in the day before this happened.”
No link to foreign terrorists: TPS
Stephenson was asked about the “gel blasters” used by the suspects and how they can be considered firearms.
“There’s a narrative within the community that this could be child play, and this was not a real firearm, but I think it’s really important to look at the timeline of these events of targeting the Jewish community. We had two synagogues that were shot at, the U.S. consulate. We had Jewish businesses that were shot at, and then we have individuals exiting a synagogue that are struck by something. Well, immediately that person is going to believe that that’s a real firearm,” Stephenson explained.
“That’s real fear that sits in them, and they will live with that forever. I think, whether it’s a real firearm or not, we take these equally as seriously.”
As to whether the two incidents could be linked to other cases in which the Jewish community was targeted, Stephenson said there is no evidence to suggest that.
An Iraqi man arrested by U.S. authorities last month is suspected of being linked to the Toronto U.S. consulate shooting and another attack at an unnamed synagogue in Canada.
“We are connected with our federal and international partners on that, but currently, I can tell you there’s no direct linkage to this case, and that we have no direct threat against the Jewish community at this time,” Stephenson said.
“It’s important to not have our minds closed to any potential linkages to foreign actor, and that we’re well connected with our federal partners,” she added.
