Thunder Bay police up patrols but no direct threats reported as global tensions over Israel-Hamas remain high | CBC News

Police in Thunder Bay, Ont., have increased some patrols in the city amid heightened global tensions due to devastating attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas over the weekend and escalating violence in the region. 

“As a result of recent world events, we do have some increased patrols occurring in certain areas,” Scott Paradis, a Thunder Bay Police Service spokesperson wrote in an email. 

“These increased patrols are part of the service practicing its due diligence in light of these events and not necessarily linked to a direct complaint or threat,” he said. 

Israel has bombarded Gaza non-stop since a weekend attack in which Hamas fighters stormed into the country’s south and massacred hundreds of people, including killing children in their homes and young people at a music festival. Militants also took some 150 people hostage.

Hamas’s assault, and days of heavy rocket fire since, have killed more than 1,300 people in Israel, including 247 soldiers. Citizens of several countries, including Canada, have been killed.

More than 1,500 people have been killed in retaliatory attacks and on Thursday Israel said its siege of the territory would remain in place until Hamas militants free the hostages.

On Friday, Israel’s military told some one million Palestinians living in Gaza to evacuate the north, according to the United Nations, an unprecedented order for almost half the population of the sealed-off territory ahead of an expected ground invasion against the ruling Hamas militant group.

Police agencies in cities across Canada, including London, the Greater Toronto Area and Vancouver have announced they’ve stepped up patrols in recent days and have been made aware of threats to Canada’s Jewish community. 

The Ontario Provincial Police also announced Friday they are monitoring police patrols in “areas of cultural and religious significance and will maintain open lines of communication with community leaders.” 

Canada’s Public Safety Minister Dominic Leblanc said he has been in contact with RCMP leadership about concerns within the Jewish community, and the national police force has called on the public to be on high alert.   

“Now is the time for increased vigilance. We will not tolerate any form of intimidation, harassment, or harmful targeting of communities or individuals in Canada,” an RCMP statement released Thursday said.