TORONTO (AP) — Police in Canada said Tuesday they have linked multiple shootings, including at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto in March, to “multilayered” gun-for-hire networks that have also targeted synagogues in the city.
Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw told a news conference that young adults are being recruited through encrypted messages and paid by the networks to carry out the shootings and have to film them to get paid. Some of the firearms used in the attacks have since been seized by investigators.
A veteran police officer was killed last week in a raid related to investigation of the shooting.
“What we know is bad actors are using criminal elements in our city to carry out these dangerous incidents,” he said. “It is clear that some of the people hiring these criminals want to create a sense of fear in our communities, including the Jewish community.”
Demkiw said Toronto police, along with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the FBI are trying to determine who is paying for the attacks.
Two firearms recovered during the investigation, believed to be involved in more than 25 shootings in the Toronto area, originated in the United States, he said. Ballistics testing is still ongoing.
Constable Marc Pinizzotto, 43, was shot on Thursday while officers were carrying out a search at an apartment building in the city’s northwest. He later died in the hospital.
A suspect who was shot by police, 19-year-old Nicholas Bennett, remains in hospital and will be charged with first-degree murder.
Investigators are searching for another suspect, 19-year-old Zara Jabbi, who is wanted in connection with the U.S. Consulate shooting and believed to be armed and dangerous.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw speaks at a news conference in Toronto as RCMP Chief Supt. Jamie Zettler, right, looks on, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw speaks at a news conference in Toronto on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw speaks at a news conference in Toronto on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Kylian Mbappé scored the 13th and 14th World Cup goals of his career Tuesday, moving the France forward past Pelé, Lionel Messi and countryman Just Fontaine and into a tie for third most in tournament history.
He also set a scoring record for France's national team.
Mbappé first scored in the 66th minute of France’s 3-1 victory over Senegal after having several good scoring chances denied earlier by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, including in the second half. He scored again from long range in stoppage time, giving him two in the game and 58 in international play to break a tie with Oliver Giroud for the national team record.
Playing in his third World Cup, the 27-year-old Mbappé is now tied with Germany’s Gerd Müller and one behind Brazil's Ronaldo. Germany’s Miroslav Klose has the record with 16 World Cup goals.
Mbappé helped France win the World Cup title in 2018 and reach the final in 2022, when he was awarded the Silver Ball as the second-best player. Joined up front by Désiré Doué and reigning Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, France went into this year's tournament as the co-favorite along with Spain.
Mbappé had little trouble finding room between Senegal defenders several times in the first 14 or so minutes. But he was sloppy with the ball for much of the rest of the first half before he and his teammates started to mesh.
Mbappé scored 25 goals this past season with Real Madrid.
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
France's Kylian Mbappe scores during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
France's Kylian Mbappe reacts during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Senegal's Sadio Mane, left, stops France's Kylian Mbappe during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the opening goal of his team during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring thrid goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
