00:01:12.040I would also like to ask that any members of the public who may have some evidence, some dash cam footage, some video footage, anything that might be suspicious activity that could be connected to this, that they please contact the police to assist us with our investigation.
00:01:30.740Again, I will repeat, the suspect vehicle was a white Honda CRV.
00:01:34.740There were two males, two individuals that emerged and discharged the firearms.
00:01:38.600This is early in the investigation, and of course, as it unfolds, and we're able to provide more information, we will surely do so.
00:01:44.940Now I'd like to turn the microphone over to Chief Superintendent Chris Leather.
00:01:49.520Thank you, Deputy. Good morning, everyone.
00:01:51.760My name is Chris Leather. I'm the RCMP Chief Superintendent for Criminal Operations here in Ontario.
00:01:57.500I'm going to make some formal remarks here, and then I look forward to questions that the media may have afterwards.
00:02:03.700Our community has experienced a deeply concerning incident, and I want again by acknowledging the worry and uncertainty many people are feeling today.
00:02:11.700Our thoughts are with everyone affected, as well as those who may be feeling unsettled by what has occurred.
00:02:17.700At this stage, I can confirm that the RCMP is working closely with the Toronto Police Service and our international partners
00:02:23.700who will assist us in a fulsome investigation into the shooting that took place overnight early this morning at the American Consulate behind us.
00:02:32.700The RCMP's Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, INSET, GTA has permanent positions for members of the Toronto Police Service which further increase our capacity to conduct these investigations in real time with established and strong relationships, intelligence sharing and tactics.
00:02:50.700At this time, the INSET team has been engaged, as this is a national security incident, and we are working with Toronto Police and others to understand the motivations of those involved.
00:03:03.660The RCMP regularly works in close collaboration with police services of jurisdictions across the
00:03:09.900country as well as our partners with Global Affairs Canada and the fulfillment of our mandate to
00:03:15.420provide protection of designated persons including foreign diplomats and in relation to incidents
00:03:21.980that occur at or in the vicinity of embassies or consulates. For the moment while the early stages
00:03:29.420of the investigation are taking place we have increased security around embassies and consulate
00:03:34.060buildings here in toronto and in the ottawa region there will be no tolerance for any form
00:03:42.140of intimidation harassment or harmful targeting of any communities or individuals in canada
00:03:47.100we want to assure that everyone's safety and security is at the forefront of everything that
00:03:50.620we do the rcmp takes threats to security of individuals living in canada very seriously
00:03:55.660and wants to reassure everyone that there is no indication
00:03:58.980of an immediate threat to public safety at this time.
00:05:43.080And if and how there is something that is found in that to support that, then that will obviously color and direct how the investigation unfolds.
00:05:51.180But it is not lost on us that the city has unfortunately experienced similar types of events, extremely serious and very concerning shootings at synagogues.
00:05:58.620And this very much factors into how we will approach this matter as well.
00:06:01.800Sir, you were two boys up to suggest the shooting event happened at 3 in the morning when you guys were older and 5 in the morning.
00:08:15.220We've had members at the consulate here this morning,
00:08:17.940along with Toronto Police, meeting with staff here
00:08:19.780and their senior executive to discuss the incident.
00:08:23.840Rest assured, those conversations are also occurring in Ottawa
00:08:27.240between officials there and their U.S. counterparts at the embassy.
00:08:30.100he's asking about sleeper cells iranian sleeper cells that's an important question here
00:08:43.940i don't have any information to provide at this time on any sleeper cells that may or may not
00:08:49.980exist in canada suffice to say that our csis counterparts and and the insets across the
00:08:55.640country are actively investigating uh matters such as this and uh we will continue to do so
00:09:03.320i think it's important uh that the public realizes that we've had a number of meetings
00:09:06.920and discussions already this morning with our federal counterparts and that does include
00:09:10.840cc's both here in toronto region and at national headquarters and they are tracking this incident
00:09:15.880very closely as well when you mentioned security at consulates do you just mean american conflicts
00:09:21.320in canada or other countries consulates and embassies as well other consulates as well
00:09:26.680including the israeli consulate will be seeing a change in the security posture here in toronto
00:09:31.400as american and israeli consulates uh not that i'm prepared to speak to at this time
00:09:36.360we'll be assessing that on an ongoing basis but for now the us consulate and the israeli consulate
00:09:42.440will see a change so why did you choose those two consulates specifically well i think it's
00:09:46.520fairly obvious based on the incidents that have occurred here in toronto and elsewhere
00:09:50.680that these consulates deserve a heightened amount of vigilance and security at this time
00:09:55.560in the hopes that we can bring the temperature down in the coming days and weeks not in my
00:10:05.160memory i i can't recall us either investigating or becoming aware of a shooting here deputy um
00:10:11.240i cannot recall the shooting i do recall many many years ago a firebomb incident we're going
00:10:17.160back a ways i mean it won't be lost on anyone that the u.s consulate is the site of many protests
00:10:21.880and demonstrations as well as because of geopolitical events the israeli consulate has
00:10:25.160seen a lot of gatherings people assembling expressing themselves so uh so this is basically
00:10:31.960the first time ever that the u.s embassy u.s consulate has ever been shot at in canadian
00:10:38.280history the officer is saying that there might have been a fire bomb many years ago but it's
00:10:43.800It's never, ever been shot at up until this point, which goes to show the level of craziness that is happening in Canada nowadays.
00:10:51.500And a lot of people are having concerns about sleeper cells, right?
00:10:55.060Iranian sleeper cells that are currently in Canada that conservative people have been sounding the alarm on for many years, but the liberals have ignored over and over again.
00:11:06.660And of course, the only two embassies that will need increased security are the Israel embassy and the American embassy.
00:11:13.800that this would be a scene where something like this would be a man where the manifestation of
00:11:19.620frustration with geopolitical events would happen is not lost on us but that might in part explain
00:11:24.120why this building is as secure and as fortified as it is i believe there were people inside at
00:11:33.480the time i don't i can't confirm that however as i was mentioning earlier the building is so
00:11:37.420fortified it's quite possible the people inside would not have noticed that there was that there
00:11:41.620were shots, pardon me, that there were shots directed at the front of the building.
00:11:45.040And are you able to confirm, I'm not sure how many shots were made from the casings?
00:11:49.160So I'm afraid I'm not able to share that with you. I can say that it was multiple shots.
00:11:53.320There were multiple casings. Last question, please. So what's entailed in determining if
00:11:58.480this is terrorism related? You mentioned that was a possibility. Well, it's definitely a national
00:12:02.300security incident because we had the U.S. consul, after all, struck by gunfire. Whether it's a
00:12:07.280terrorist event or not, that'll be subject to the investigation that will be undertaken in the
00:12:11.480coming days and weeks. And that'll be based on the evidence that's collected both here at the
00:12:15.100scene and subsequently through the work with our partners. Can you just give us an update quickly
00:12:19.760on traffic? How long is South Mountain? This guy's asking about traffic. I'm not able to tell you
00:12:23.820exactly. I mean, I could follow up with you if you like. I'd speak to the people here that are
00:12:27.440protecting the scene and rest assured that as soon as we're able to open up traffic, we will.
00:12:31.420We realize that this is obviously an inconvenience for people, but the investigation is of a very
00:12:35.060high priority and we are making sure that we are not leaving anything to chance and looking at every
00:12:38.780little detail i'd like to thank everyone for attending today um just a reminder if you were
00:12:44.100in the area early this morning around 4 29 if you're driving you have so an international
00:12:48.800incident right now is being talked about and this to me stood out when they were asking that
00:12:54.200leadership from police in toronto do you believe that there are cells in your country terror cells
00:13:00.120he said there may or may not be existing in canada at this point but they are now tightening
00:13:05.500security, stepping it up in both US and Israeli consulates in Toronto and the US embassy and
00:13:11.780Israeli embassy in Ottawa, which of course is the capital city of Canada. A lot of people are
00:13:16.080thinking that this might be an incident involving sleeper cells from Iran here in Canada. I wouldn't
00:13:21.160be surprised if that's what's happening. Here's Doug Ford talking about exactly that.
00:13:24.880Any indication of the police that these shootings and synagogues and this shooting at the consulate are related in any way?
00:13:31.660Yeah, no, we haven't had any information on that.