Toronto police arrested a 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy on August 4, 2026, in connection with the July 27 shooting at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto. The adult suspect, identified as Xen-Ul-Abdeen Syed, faces charges including firearm offenses, arson, stolen property, and attacking the premises of an internationally protected person.

The 15-year-old suspect was also charged but cannot be identified under Canadian law. Police allege the attack was part of a gun-for-hire network linked to other violent crimes in Toronto. Investigators believe the suspects were recruited through an encrypted messaging app and offered money to fire on the consulate.

A white Honda Accord pulled alongside the consulate at approximately 4:46 a.m. on July 27, and a single shot struck the front of the building. Police initiated a brief chase but ceased pursuit because the driver was traveling at an excessive speed. A marked police cruiser was stationed near the consulate at the time of the shooting, though no one was injured in the incident.

Police allege the two suspects were involved in setting fire to a vehicle in a community outside Toronto three days before the July 27 consulate shooting. This allegation connects the pair to a pattern of violence preceding the diplomatic mission attack. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police opened a parallel investigation treating the shooting as a national security incident. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is the Canadian federal police service.

Chief Superintendent Joe Matthews stated that investigators believe shootings, homicides, and arsons are increasingly commissioned through online apps with varying payments. "In many circumstances we know they are not getting paid," he said. Individuals are hired to shoot at various targets and record the shootings for payment. Lists synagogues, Jewish schools, a waste management company, and the U.S. Consulate as targets mentioned by police.

Police Chief Myron Demkiw stated that identifying those behind the crimes remains a key focus of the investigation during public speculation. "There has been significant public interest and speculation about who is behind these crimes. That remains a key focus of our investigation," Demkiw said.

That Toronto police arrested the two suspects on August 4, 2026, charging them with firearm offenses, arson, and attacking the premises of an internationally protected person. Al Jazeera also reported that Chief Superintendent Joe Matthews said investigators believe shootings, homicides and arsons are increasingly being commissioned through online apps, with suspects offered varying amounts of money depending on the crime.

The July 27 incident followed a previous shooting at the U.S. Consulate on March 10, 2026. Two men, aged 18 and 19, were arrested in June in connection with that earlier shooting. No one was injured in either the July 27 shooting or the March 10 shooting. Police have maintained a visible presence outside the consulate since the March shooting.

The arrest of two suspects in connection with the shooting at the U.S. Consulate shows concerns about a gun-for-hire network operating in Toronto. The involvement of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as a national security incident reflects the seriousness with which authorities view attacks on diplomatic premises. The alleged use of encrypted messaging apps to recruit shooters for varying payments suggests a shifting landscape in how violent crimes are commissioned.

The connection to previous incidents, including the March 10 shooting and the vehicle arson, indicates a broader pattern of targeted violence. The listing of synagogues, Jewish schools, and a waste management company as potential targets by police points to the diverse nature of the alleged network's activities. Identifying the individuals behind the recruitment remains a central objective for investigators as public speculation continues.