Toronto police say Jewish residents were deliberately targeted in organized gel-gun assaults.”
Toronto police have arrested four more suspects in connection with two suspected hate-motivated assaults targeting visibly Jewish residents with imitation firearms.
Chief Superintendent Katherine Stephenson said Wednesday that the newly arrested suspects include two adult men, one male youth, and one female youth. Police are still searching for two additional youth suspects, one male and one female, who remain at large.
“These incidents were not random,” Stephenson said, adding that investigators believe members of the Jewish community were deliberately targeted. Police allege the attacks were organized, planned, and coordinated by multiple individuals.
The first attack occurred on April 30 near Bathurst Street and Lawrence Avenue West, an area with a large Jewish population. Three visibly identifiable Jewish victims were walking outside when a suspect in a blue SUV allegedly fired an imitation firearm described as an Orbeez-style gel gun. The victims suffered minor injuries.
A second incident took place on May 7 outside Congregation Chasidei Bobov synagogue near Bathurst Street and Highway 401. Police said three visibly Jewish people were standing outside when suspects in a blue Lexus SUV fired an imitation weapon at them. One victim was struck and sustained minor injuries.
The first suspect, 18-year-old Ruslan Novruzov of Vaughan, was arrested on May 8 after police executed search warrants at a residence and vehicle and seized two gel-blaster imitation firearms. He was charged with assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
The four latest arrests were made on May 22. Reports identified two adult suspects as Luka Chokheli, 20, and Alishahin Isayev, 23, both of Toronto, while the two youth suspects cannot be named under Canadian law.
Police said some of the seven identified suspects were involved in both incidents, with common links between the vehicle used and individuals connected to the attacks. Stephenson said some planning allegedly occurred the day before one of the assaults.
The case comes amid mounting concern over antisemitic violence and intimidation in Toronto since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Jewish institutions and community members in the Toronto area have faced repeated incidents, including synagogue shootings, vandalism, assaults, and hate-related demonstrations.
Community advocates praised the arrests but urged authorities to continue pursuing all suspects. B’nai Brith Canada said attacks intended to spread fear among Jews must be treated with the utmost seriousness.
