A Jewish-owned grocery store in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Toronto was firebombed and spray painted with “Free Palestine” graffiti early Wednesday morning.
A Jewish-owned grocery store in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Toronto was firebombed and spray painted with “Free Palestine” graffiti early Wednesday morning.
The business’s name “International Deli Foods” is displayed as the acronym “IDF” in large red letters above the building’s entrance. IDF is also the acronym for Israel Defence Forces, who are currently waging war in the Gaza Strip.
According to officials, police and firefighters were called to the scene at about 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday. When firefighters arrived, they saw smoke coming from the rear. Fire crews entered the building and quickly extinguished the blaze. Officers found the graffiti on the outside of the building at the same time that the fire was discovered.
“I’ve been a criminal investigator the vast majority of my career, and in most of those criminal investigations, there was a tipping point. This is this tipping point,” Toronto Police Service spokeswoman Pauline Gray said outside the vandalized International Delicatessen Foods building.
“This is not graffiti on a bus shelter. This is not lawful protest protected by constitutional right. This is a criminal act. It is violent, it is targeted, it is organized, and it will receive the weight of the Toronto Police Service to exactly what it deserves,” Gray continued. “We will leave no stone unturned. We will use all the resources available to us to investigate, arrest and prosecute who is responsible for this.”
On Wednesday evening, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow released a statement on X, formerly Twitter, saying her office is in contact with the police as they investigate.
“Incidents like this leave people feeling shaken. They diminish our sense of safety and belonging. All residents of Toronto deserve to be safe and feel safe,” Chow said.
“As Mayor, let me be clear: acts of antisemitism, hate and violence are not welcome here.”
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