Toronto Police Investigate Shooting at U.S. Consulate

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A senior Iranian-backed militant has been charged in the U.S. With orchestrating the March 10, 2026, shooting outside the U.S. Consulate in downtown Toronto, according to newly unsealed court documents. The allegations tie the attack—a national security case investigated by Canadian authorities—to a broader network of coordinated terrorist plots across Europe, the U.S., and Canada.

Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a 32-year-old Iraqi national, was charged Friday in New York with six terrorism-related offences by U.S. Prosecutors. The U.S. Department of Justice alleges Al-Saadi, a commander with Kata’ib Hizballah (a Shia militant group linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), played a central role in planning and claiming responsibility for at least 18 attacks in Europe and two additional attacks in Canada, including the Toronto consulate shooting and a separate assault targeting a Canadian synagogue.

The U.S. Criminal complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York, reveals that Al-Saadi discussed the Canadian attacks in recorded phone conversations with a confidential informant. Prosecutors claim he boasted about having "our guys" in Canada, Europe, and the U.S., coordinating operations through an Iranian-backed network. The Toronto shooting, which occurred on March 10, 2026, involved two suspects who fired shots at the consulate from a white Honda CR-V before fleeing. Police confirmed shell casings and damage at the scene, though no injuries were reported.

The RCMP and Toronto Police classified the incident as a national security case, triggering an investigation into potential foreign involvement. While Canadian authorities have not publicly linked the attack to Al-Saadi’s network, the U.S. Filing suggests a direct connection. The allegations come as Canada grapples with rising concerns over foreign-backed militant activity, particularly in major urban centers like Toronto.

Kata’ib Hizballah, designated a terrorist organization by multiple Western governments, operates in Syria and Iraq with ties to Iran’s Quds Force, the elite foreign operations arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The U.S. Complaint includes social media evidence, such as a Snapchat post featuring Al-Saadi alongside Qasem Soleimani, the late Quds Force commander assassinated by the U.S. In 2020.

The case underscores the transnational reach of Iranian-backed militant networks, with prosecutors alleging Al-Saadi’s group targeted symbols of American and Israeli presence in multiple countries. While the Toronto shooting remains the only confirmed attack in Canada linked to the network, the U.S. Filing suggests broader plotting activity, including discussions about additional targets.

No arrests have been made in Canada related to the consulate shooting, and Canadian officials have not yet commented on the U.S. Charges. However, the RCMP’s ongoing investigation into the incident may now focus on identifying Al-Saadi’s alleged operatives in Canada.

For readers seeking further context:

• Kata’ib Hizballah: A Shia militant group based in Syria and Iraq, aligned with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
• Quds Force: Iran’s elite foreign operations unit, responsible for covert and military actions beyond Iran’s borders.
• U.S. Consulate in Toronto: A diplomatic facility located in downtown Toronto’s financial district, serving as a key American presence in Canada.

Note to Editors: This article is based solely on verified U.S. Court documents and prior Canadian law enforcement statements. No claims or quotes from third-party sources (e.g., Global News, The Star) are included, as they fall under the "background orientation" category per editorial guidelines. For updates on the RCMP’s investigation, readers are directed to official statements from Canada’s national police force.