Toronto police arrest two in US Consulate shooting investigation

Suspects recruited via encrypted app and offered money for violent acts, Toronto-police" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="42216" data-entity-type="organization">Toronto Police reveal after arrests.Toronto-police" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="42216" data-entity-type="organization">Toronto Police have announced two arrests in connection with the shooting at the US Consulate last month, calling the suspects “criminals for hire.”Authorities on Thursday said they arrested a 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy in the second shooting at the United States Consulate in five months.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Toronto police officer shot while investigating attack on US consulatelist 2 of 3Toronto engulfed by wildfire smoke as US cities threatenedlist 3 of 3Shot fired outside US consulate in Toronto for second time this yearend of listThe latest shooting in July followed a March 10 attack on the diplomatic mission that also occurred before dawn. Police arrested two people in that case in June.No one was injured in either event, but police described both as “national security” incidents, and the initial shooting on March 10 prompted beefed-up protection for US and Israeli diplomatic buildings in multiple Canadian cities, as war gripped the Middle East.The Royal Canadian Mounted Police also opened a parallel investigation, treating the shooting as a national security incident.Police on Thursday said they believe the suspects were recruited through an encrypted messaging app and were offered money to open fire on the consulate.“There has been significant public interest and speculation about who is behind these crimes,” Police Chief Myron Demkiw said. “That remains a key focus of our investigation.”Police identified the adult suspect as 19-year-old Xen-Ul-Abdeen Syed, who faces multiple firearm, arson and stolen-property charges, as well as a charge of attacking the premises of an internationally protected person. A 15-year-old was also charged but cannot be identified under Canadian law.Since the first shooting, police have maintained a visible presence outside the consulate. The July 27 shooting occurred despite a marked police cruiser stationed nearby.