Canadian media refuse to name Toronto Jewish restaurant shooting suspect Mohamed Mahdi, or his Muslim faith

A 35-year-old Brampton man has been charged after gunfire struck a Jewish-owned restaurant in North York, last week, according to Toronto police. Authorities say the suspect, Mohamed Mahdi, was identified and arrested following the early morning incident.

Mahdi is believed to be Muslim, due to his given name.

Police were first called to the area of Avenue Road and Brooke Avenue at approximately 1:28 am on April 3 after reports of shots being fired. When officers arrived, they found bullet damage at the front entrance of Old Avenue Restaurant. No injuries were reported. The accused now faces four firearms-related charges, including discharging a restricted or prohibited firearm. Investigators say the case remains ongoing, and additional charges have not been ruled out.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said the arrest was made possible through increased police presence in the area. “Specifically in this case, covert assets saw the suspect fleeing, and gathered critical information that led to the arrest of the suspect,” he said.

Demkiw also addressed the broader impact of the incident. “This kind of attack leaves a real impact on people's sense of security, and in this case, particularly within Toronto's Jewish community,” he said. “We don't want this kind of violence in Toronto.”

Police confirmed they have been in contact with the restaurant’s owner, who they say is “understandably very shaken.” A statement from the business, read by spokesperson Maureen Leshem, thanked officers for their response. “It sends a clear message that acts of intimidation and hate will not be tolerated, and will be treated with the seriousness they deserve,” she said.

The shooting occurred during Passover, a period when police had already increased patrols around Jewish institutions. Authorities say they are examining whether the incident is connected to a series of recent shootings targeting synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses in the Greater Toronto Area.

“It’s not lost on us that there has been a number of shootings in a short period of time that have been targeting synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses,” Chief Supt. Katherine Stephenson said. “So we are looking at this investigation from all angles.”