Ottawa, July 23: Canadian security agencies have disrupted four alleged violent extremist plots targeting Jewish communities since the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas conflict in October 2023, according to a federal intelligence assessment that warns threats against Jewish Canadians are likely to remain elevated.
The Integrated Threat Assessment Centre (ITAC), a federal intelligence body, said in a report dated June 29 that the four disrupted plots were allegedly inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS). The assessment also referred to a separate case involving the disruption of a Canadian who had travelled to Israel.
The report concludes that while Canada’s national terrorism threat level should remain at “Medium”—meaning a terrorist attack remains a realistic possibility—security concerns involving Jewish communities have intensified.
According to the assessment, there has been a noticeable increase in harassment, threatening rhetoric and criminal incidents, including assaults, arson attacks and shootings, particularly within the Greater Toronto Area, following the escalation of conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States earlier this year.
The report notes that although some incidents may not meet the legal definition of terrorism, they nevertheless contribute to growing fear and insecurity within affected communities.
ITAC warns that violent extremist and criminal threats directed at Jewish communities in Canada and other Western countries are likely to continue over the next six months.
The assessment also states that groups linked to Iran are likely to continue directing threats toward Jewish communities, as well as American and Israeli interests, although it notes that investigations into several incidents remain ongoing.
The report further cautions that the normalization of antisemitic acts could create an environment that increases the risk of violent radicalization among susceptible individuals.
Statistics released this week by Statistics Canada indicate that Jewish Canadians remained the most frequently targeted victims of religion-motivated hate crimes in 2025, accounting for 71 per cent of reported incidents, although the total number of antisemitic hate crimes declined compared with the previous year.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) described the findings as deeply concerning.
CIJA President and CEO Noah Shack said the combination of extremist plots, rising hate crimes and calls for violence represents a serious security challenge requiring continued vigilance and adequate resources for law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
The report also references investigations into shootings at synagogues in the Greater Toronto Area and other attacks targeting Jewish institutions, noting that authorities continue to examine whether any of those incidents are connected to extremist or foreign-linked organizations.
While the assessment discusses claims made by a group alleged to have links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), it emphasizes that Canadian authorities have not publicly established definitive links between those claims and the Canadian incidents.
Former RCMP Assistant Commissioner Ches Parsons, who reviewed the report, argued that the assessment understates the seriousness of the threat by drawing distinctions between terrorism, hate crimes and other forms of violence.
However, federal officials concluded that, despite the heightened security environment, the available intelligence does not currently justify raising Canada’s national terrorism threat level above “Medium.”
Authorities continue to urge the public to report suspicious activities promptly while police and national security agencies monitor potential threats against communities across Canada.
As with any ongoing national security investigations, several matters referenced in the report remain under investigation, and allegations involving individuals or organizations have not been proven in court.