TORONTO: A Jewish-owned delicatessen in Toronto, Canada, was set on fire on Wednesday in what authorities are investigating as a hate crime.
The International Delicatessen Foods, located in the north of the city, caught fire early in the day, prompting a response from firefighters.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident. However, graffiti with the message “Free Palestine” was discovered on the doors of the establishment, indicating a potential motive linked to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
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Toronto Police Staff Superintendent Pauline Gray strongly condemned the attack, categorizing it as criminal, violent, targeted, and organized. Gray emphasized the commitment to utilizing all available resources to thoroughly investigate, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible for the arson.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow echoed the condemnation of the incident on social media, affirming that acts of antisemitism, hate, and violence are not welcome in the city.
This incident follows a concerning trend, as Toronto police had previously reported a significant increase in hate crimes in the city since the onset of the recent conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7. The targeted nature of this attack underscores the need for continued efforts to combat hate crimes and promote tolerance within communities.
