Toronto police announce new counter-terrorism security unit
The Toronto Police Service has announced the creation of a new counter-terrorism unit, promising “high visibility deployments” in its future operations.
“In response to an evolving security landscape, the Toronto Police Service is taking operational action to keep our communities safe by strengthening how we identify, prevent, and respond to terrorism and violent extremism,” TPS said in a press release Tuesday announcing the creation of a dedicated Counter-Terrorism Security Unit or CTSU.
“At a time of heightened tensions, and in light of the firearm discharges targeting synagogues and the U.S. Consulate in Toronto and other violent, hate-motivated incidents around the world, the Toronto Police Service continues to take proactive action,” it continued. “The CTSU will strengthen our existing security partnerships with the RCMP, the OPP, and local and international law enforcement partners, to identify and disrupt potential threats impacting Toronto and the GTA.”
The police said the new unit is not connected to one immediate threat, but cautioned that Toronto “is seeing a more complex threat environment influenced by global conflicts, online radicalization, and extremism, along with a significant increase in hate crimes.”
Toronto police said they are also launching Task Force Guardian, “to enhance police visibility in key locations including critical infrastructure, high-traffic public spaces, tourist attractions, and places of worship.” The initiative will involve uniformed officers with patrol rifles like the C8 carbine, and other long guns.
“The presence of these officers is intended to deter potential acts of violence and ensure officers are positioned to respond quickly if needed,” the police said. “The deployments are being actioned to protect people, support communities, and ensure residents can gather and move through the city safely.”
In a press conference Tuesday announcing the news, police chief Myron Demkiw said Torontonians can expect to see Toronto Police officers carrying patrol rifles, much as tourists have seen in recent years in large European cities.
“If you see these officers, whether it’s around places of worship or tourist hubs, it does not mean there’s an imminent threat,” Demkiw said. “What it means is we are strategically positioning resources to protect our communities and to be able to respond quickly if necessary.”
“Today’s announcement is not in response to a single specific threat,” Chief Superintendent Katherine Stephenson added. “We have found that public safety threats often fall below the threshold of terrorism, but pose no less of a danger and still require serious and special attention and criminal investigations.”
She said it was “absolutely necessary” to have a specialized unit that focuses on proactively detecting, preventing, and disrupting terrorism and violent extremism.
Joint Statement by CIJA & @UJAFederation on the Launch of Toronto Police Service's New Counter-Terrorism Security Unit and Task Force Guardian:
— CIJA (@CIJAinfo) March 24, 2026
“In recent weeks, Jewish communities across the Greater Toronto Area have faced a dangerous escalation — including gunfire targeting… https://t.co/HWhTV3dNI3
In a joint statement, the Centre for Israeli and Jewish Affairs and the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto welcomed the new initiatives.
“In recent weeks, Jewish communities across the Greater Toronto Area have faced a dangerous escalation — including gunfire targeting synagogues, extremist protests, and open displays of antisemitic incitement,” the groups said in a post on social media. ”
“The establishment of a dedicated Counter-Terrorism Security Unit and the deployment of Task Force Guardian are necessary and overdue steps,” the groups said in a post on social media. “We welcome this action as a recognition that the current situation and threat levels require a stronger response, including enhanced policing measures.”
“This is not a theoretical risk,” they added. “It is a credible and imminent danger that requires a proactive, visible, and sustained policing presence. Jewish Torontonians should not have to question whether it is safe to attend synagogue, send their children to school, or walk in their own neighbourhoods.”
The RCMP, whose Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams (INSET) often work closely with other federal, provincial and municipal police services, also welcomed the news.
“We look forward to the ongoing collaboration with INSET, and within the new unit to ensure that we remain able to respond to threats to public safety in Canada’s largest city,” said Matt Peggs, the RCMP’s Regional Commander, Central Region.