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Toronto police have arrested a 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old in the second shooting at the U.S. Consulate in five months, saying the attack was carried out as part of a gun-for-hire network linked to other violent crimes in Canada\u2019s largest city<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n TORONTO — <\/span>Toronto police announced the arrests Thursday of a 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy in the second shooting at the U.S. Consulate in five months,<\/a> alleging the attack was part of a gun-for-hire network. <\/a><\/p>\n The latest shooting in July followed a March 10 attack on the diplomatic mission<\/a> that also occurred before dawn. Police arrested two people in that case in June. No one was injured in either shooting.<\/p>\n The Royal Canadian Mounted Police also opened a parallel investigation, treating the shooting as a national security incident. <\/p>\n Police said they believe the suspects were recruited through an encrypted messaging app and were offered money to open fire on the consulate. <\/p>\n \u201cThere has been significant public interest and speculation about who is behind these crimes,\u201d Police Chief Myron Demkiw said. \u201cThat remains a key focus of our investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n Police identified the adult suspect as 19-year-old Xen-Ul-Abdeen Syed, who faces multiple firearm, arson and stolen-property charges, as well as a charge of attacking the premises of an internationally protected person. A 15-year-old also was charged but cannot be identified under Canadian law.<\/p>\n Since the first shooting, police have maintained a visible presence outside the consulate. The July 27 shooting occurred despite a marked police cruiser stationed nearby.<\/p>\n Police said a white Honda Accord pulled alongside the consulate at about 4:46 a.m. and a single shot was fired, striking the front of the building. A brief police chase followed but police ceased the chase as the driver of the vehicle was traveling at an excessive speed.<\/p>\n Chief Supt. Joe Matthews said investigators believe shootings, homicides and arsons are increasingly being commissioned through online apps, with suspects offered varying amounts of money depending on the crime.<\/p>\n \u201cIn many circumstances we know they are not getting paid,\u201d Matthews said.<\/p>\n Police also allege the two suspects were involved in setting fire to a vehicle in a community outside Toronto three days before the latest consulate shooting.<\/p>\n Toronto police in June said they believed multiple shootings, including the March incident, could be linked to \u201cmultilayered\u201d gun-for-hire networks<\/a> that have also targeted synagogues in the city.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n