An 18-year-old man has been charged with shooting at two Toronto-area shuls in March, Toronto Police Service and York Regional Police announced Wednesday. A third shul was targeted just days earlier in what authorities are treating as coordinated antisemitic violence.

The suspect, whose identity is protected because he was 17 when the alleged shootings occurred, faces nine charges including two counts of discharging a firearm into a place of worship, two counts of property damage exceeding $5,000, and multiple counts related to unauthorized firearm possession and careless storage.

The violence began March 2, when shots were fired at Temple Emanu-El Reform synagogue, piercing the front windows. Five days later, on March 6, the suspect allegedly opened fire at the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto (BAYT), damaging the front doors. Two people were inside the shul at the time but were not injured.

Just after midnight on March 7, the suspect allegedly targeted Shaarei Shomayim shul, again firing at the front entrance and causing damage to the building.

Police had announced Friday they were seeking a suspect in connection with the attacks.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)