GTA police step up patrols near consulates, places of worship as Israel-Iran tensions rise
Move comes as Israel continued its strikes on Iran Friday morning
Police across the Greater Toronto Area say they are stepping up their presence around consulates and places of worship after Israel took out top military officers in Iran and struck multiple nuclear and missile sites in the country Friday morning.
Toronto police said they will increase patrols and have a visible presence at consular offices, and places of worship, in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
"We are in contact with our partners as we monitor the situation in the Middle East," said Toronto police in their post "We continue to have an increased presence around places of worship and consular offices to ensure community safety,"
Peel Regional Police also released a similar statement.
"We are aware of rising tensions in the Middle East and understand that global conflicts can impact the sense of safety here in our region," Peel police said on social media.
Israel's strikes on Iran
Israel attacked Iran early Friday with a barrage of airstrikes, calling it just the beginning and raising the potential for an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries.
Canada is calling for de-escalation, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said in a post on X.
"De-escalation must be the priority. We urge all parties to refrain from actions that further destabilize the region," Anand said. "The protection of civilians must be paramount."
With files from The Associated Press