Canadian authorities have disrupted four violent extremist plots targeting Jewish targets since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict in late 2023, according to an intelligence report obtained by Global News. The report from the federal government's Integrated Threat Assessment Centre (ITAC) indicates that these plots were inspired by the Islamic State group. A fifth incident involved the disruption of a Canadian individual who had traveled to Israel.
The ITAC report, dated June 29, highlights ongoing threats to the Jewish community in Canada, noting a longer-term issue stemming from the normalization of antisemitic acts. While the number of attacks in Canada has remained stable, with one to three per year, the report suggests that rising threats have not been matched by an increase in demonstrated violent extremist capabilities or realized attacks. Statistics Canada figures released this week show that Jews were the victims of 71 per cent of religiously motivated hate crimes in the past year, an increase from 69 per cent in 2024.
While no such plots have been uncovered in the current year, the report indicates an escalation in targeting of Canada's Jewish population since U. S. and Israeli airstrikes in Iran began in February 2026. This has resulted in an uptick in harassment, threatening rhetoric, and criminal incidents, including assault, arson, and shootings, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area. Despite these concerning trends, the intelligence report did not recommend an increase in Canada's national terrorism threat level. However, former RCMP assistant commissioner Ches Parsons expressed concern that the report may have downplayed the scale and urgency of the threat.
The findings follow an April 2 document that suggested Iran's intelligence services might be utilizing local crime groups to target Jewish communities in Canada. A March 2026 RCMP threat assessment also mentioned the Islamic State's (ISIS) claims of attacks in Europe. The report acknowledges that while some incidents may not meet the legal threshold for terrorism, they contribute to a growing sense of insecurity and fear within targeted communities.
