A CBC News investigation has linked roughly a dozen shootings in Toronto to gunmen who were paid to carry out attacks, with evidence pointing to financing from the Iranian government. The targets included synagogues, a school, businesses across the Greater Toronto Area and the U.S. Consulate downtown, making the case a national security concern that reaches well beyond Canada's borders.
What did the attacks look like?
According to the CBC investigation, the shootings shared a recognizable pattern. Suspects arrived in stolen cars in the early hours of the morning, fired handguns into building entrances and filmed the attacks on a phone, either themselves or through accomplices. No one was injured in any of the Toronto shootings. Many took place in the hours and days after the United States and Israel began bombing Iran on Feb. 28 and killed the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
How does the paid-gunman model work?
The arrangement is designed to keep the person paying separate from the person pulling the trigger. Shootings are arranged through encrypted apps and intermediaries, creating several layers between client and criminal. Toronto Police Chief Superintendent Joe Matthews, who oversees the investigation, said authorities have heard information about possible foreign involvement and are examining every angle. He declined to confirm or deny that element, saying investigators do not believe there is a "very direct connection between the financier and the perpetrator on the street."
Who is being investigated?
Toronto Police, the RCMP and CSIS have all looked into whether a foreign power instigated the attacks. A criminal complaint against Mohammad Bagher Saad Dawood al-Saadi, described as a senior official in Kataib Hezbollah, alleges he claimed his people were behind a shooting at the U.S. Consulate and another at a synagogue. Kataib Hezbollah is widely viewed as a proxy of the Iranian regime. Some alleged gunmen have been arrested and charged, and most face counts tied to multiple attacks. Many of the accused are young, ranging from 15 to their early 20s, according to the CBC.
FAQ
Has anyone been hurt in the Toronto shootings?
No injuries were reported in the shootings identified by the investigation.
Is Iran's role confirmed?
No. Police have not confirmed foreign financing, and the investigation by Toronto Police, the RCMP and CSIS is ongoing.
