Canada police investigate bomb threats targeting over 100 Jewish institutions and hospitals

Harjaap Ahluwalia | Osgoode Hall Law School, CA

AUGUST 22, 2024 

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, with the nature of the threats prompting 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 to the threats, 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 taken at several Ottawa hospitals while the investigation continued. The RCMP is leading the investigation and is trying to work 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. Section 82.6 of the code makes it an offense to threaten to commit an offense relating to terrorism offenses provided under sections 82.3 to 82.5, with the penalty for threatening to commit such an offense including imprisonment for up to 14 years. Additionally, section 264.1 of the Criminal Code makes it an offense to convey or cause any person to receive a threat.

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, President and CEO Michael Levitt called the threats ‘absolutely chilling’ and highlighted the fact that Canada’s Jewish Community has been raising alarm bells about the calls for violence and escalation of hatred towards Jews over the past couple of months. Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather also condemned the incident.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote in a statement 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 comes in the wake of a noted rise in antisemitism globally following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. In May, synagogues and a museum in New York received similar bomb threats. A November 2023 report found that antisemitism incidents had more than quadrupled in Germany since the start of the war in Gaza. Reports also showed a similar notable rise of such incidents in France and Belgium. Further, US University campuses have witnessed similar tensions and a formal investigation was opened into Penn, Harvard, and MIT’s response to antisemitism on their campuses in December 2023.