Report of suspicious incident near shul unfounded, police say

Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto Congregation

TORONTO — Police in York Region say recent reports of suspicious activity and offensive remarks against security staff at the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto (BAYT) in Thornhill have turned out to be unfounded.

On July 24, York Regional Police (YRP) received reports of an incident that allegedly occurred July 22, on York Hill Boulevard near the BAYT. It was reported that a car was parked close to a stop sign with two men nearby, their faces covered by hoodies and the car’s license plate obscured. It was also reported they were taking pictures of the shul’s security cameras and when a security guard approached them, they made an allegedly anti-Semitic remark before getting into the car and driving away.

An email that circulated widely in the Jewish community warned people to be on the lookout in the wake of the incident.

After what they called a “thorough investigation,” police said July 31 that while there may have been youths in the area at the time, they weren’t concealing their identities or taking photos, and the offensive remark was directed against the security guard personally and was not anti-Semitic in nature.

“York Regional Police would like to reassure members of the public that in this particular case, there was no security threat or safety concerns against members of BAYT or the larger Jewish community,” the police said in a statement.

Police said investigators formally cautioned the complainant about false reporting and misuse of police resources.

“York Regional Police is reminding the community we take such reports seriously and will vigorously investigate any reports of suspicious activity or potential threats against citizens.”

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) praised YRP for its handling of the incident.

“In addition to deploying extensive resources and increasing police visibility at Jewish sites, YRP executed a diligent investigation which was brought to a swift conclusion,” CIJA said in a statement. “We also want to thank Toronto Police Services for likewise allocating significant resources and increasing police visibility at Jewish facilities throughout the city.”

CIJA added: “To be clear: police have confirmed that the incident did not represent a threat to the BAYT. Community members should be assured that while there is always a need to maintain security precautions, there is no known threat to the community at this time.”

It urged Jewish organizations to “regularly examine their security protocols to ensure they remain effective” and reminded them that, along with the police, it “will be holding a security training session in advance of the High Holidays for security personnel and volunteers working in the Jewish community.”

The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies also lauded police.

“As Jewish communities in Canada and, indeed, around the world face an alarming increase in anti-Semitic activity, people are understandably on edge and alert to potential dangers,” president and CEO Avi Benlolo said. “We are pleased to learn the allegations in this incident were unfounded and that the synagogue was not targeted, and we commend the YRP on the seriousness of its investigation and the speed with which it was undertaken.”