Police officers will be more visible in public spaces in Toronto in the coming days as a result of recent attacks on soldiers in Quebec and Ottawa.
The increased police presence is aimed to reassure Toronto residents after a soldier was fatally shot at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Wednesday. On Monday, one soldier was killed and another was injured in a hit-and-run attack in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, a city southeast of Montreal.
In the hours following the Ottawa shootings, some doors of City Hall were sealed off, and police could be seen pacing outside the building. Police officers and transit enforcement officers were also seen at major subway stations, guarding the stations and platforms. Heightened TTC security can be expected for the next two weeks.
Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair said that there is no specific threat to Canada's biggest city, a sentiment echoed by Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly, but security has been amped up as a precaution.
At a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, Blair reassured the public that there is no known credible threat in Toronto, "but we will always err on the side of caution."
Blair said he has delegated additional police resources to the Ontario legislature at Queen's Park. Tactical officers were seen outside the building and roaming the hallways. The provincial sergeant-at-arms was asked if he was armed, and replied, "I've got a sword."
Under a flag lowered to half-mast, MPPs will see an increased police presence at least until Friday.
Blair said he was also sending officers to courthouses, consulates, government and military facilities.
Undercover officers will also be roaming the streets of Toronto for the next few days, and all residents of the city have been asked to report any unusual or suspicious behaviour immediately to police or security guards. They've also been warned to report any suspicious packages and unattended bags.
Security staff in high-traffic areas like government buildings will be reviewing their procedures in the days to come, though no specific changes have been reported thus far.
Approximately 170 kilometres northeast of the city, soldiers faced long lineups at the main gates of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton. Before 8 a.m., traffic was lined up for half a kilometre as drivers waited to pass through heightened security.
A CTV Toronto photojournalist reported that personnel were asked to show identification before being allowed in. Drivers in panel vans or pick-up trucks were being sent to a secondary checkpoint for closer examination. Secondary entrances and exit gates have been closed.
