Vancouver Synagogue Attacked with ‘Incendiary Device’ in Latest in Series of Attacks on Jewish Buildings in Canada

May 31, 2024 TruthUSA

An “incendiary device” was thrown at the front doors of the Schara Tzedeck synagogue in Vancouver at 9:30 pm on May 30, a local Jewish organization said, just days after shootings targeted Jewish schools in Montreal and Toronto.

Nobody was injured and the synagogue suffered minor damage, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver said in a statement.

“This deliberate act of hate was an attempt to intimidate our Jewish community,” the federation said. “But we refuse to be intimidated or to hide. Our community is resilient, and we are proud to be an important part of the multicultural fabric of our city, our province, and our country.”

Authorities cleared the building for reopening, and police will increase patrols around Jewish institutions, the statement said.

“This disgusting act of antisemitism is reprehensible & has absolutely no place in BC,” B.C. Premier David Eby said in a May 31 post on X, formerly Twitter. “We stand with the Jewish community in BC & unequivocally condemn antisemitism & all forms of hatred.”

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon echoed Mr. Eby’s sentiments on X, saying that “we all must speak up and condemn this rising tide of antisemitism and intimidation towards the Jewish community. Hatred and antisemitism have no place in this province.”

Jewish Schools Targeted

The attack in Vancouver comes days after a Jewish school was hit by gunfire in Montreal, the third school targeted in the city since October. Police said they were called out to the Belz school at the Young Israel of Montreal synagogue on May 29 where they found at least one bullet at the front of the school.

It’s also the second shooting at a Jewish school this week. A Jewish girls’ school in Toronto was shot at on May 25, damaging the front of the building, police said.

The attacks follow a series of incidents targeting Jewish schools and businesses since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

On Nov. 9, 2023, bullets were fired at the doors of the Yeshiva Gedola school and the United Talmud Torahs of Montreal. The school was hit again on Nov. 12. Police have arrested Abdirazak Mahdi Ahmed, 20, in connection with the Nov. 12 incident.

Jennifer Cowan contributed to this report.

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