TORONTO (April 23, 2018) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is shocked and deeply saddenedby today’s ramming attack in Toronto.

According to reports, a white van drove up on the sidewalk near thebusy intersection of Yonge and Finch and struck multiple pedestrians, leaving at least nine dead and 16 injured.  Police say the incident occurred Monday afternoonat approximately 1:30 p.m. The suspect and the van are bothin police custody.

“We condemn thisbarbaric act of violence in the strongest possible terms and send our heartfeltcondolences to the victims and their families,” said FSWC President and CEO AviBenlolo. “This brazen attack is a stark reminder that we are not immune as Canadiansto hatred and violence. We thank Toronto police and first responders for theirswift response.”

The incident took place outside theFriends of Simon Wiesenthal Center office. All staff members are accounted forand safe.

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Media Contact:

Avital Borisovsky  
Communications Associate    
416.864.9735 x 29 
aborisovsky@fswc.ca

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Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is a top Jewish human rights foundation in Canada's organized Jewish community. It directly impacts over 100,000 people each year and 500,000+ peripherally. FSWC is committed to countering racism and antisemitism and to promoting the principles of tolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy and educational programs including workshops, Freedom Day, Spirit of Hope Benefit, Tools for Tolerance and the widely acclaimed Tour for Humanity. FSWC is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights organization headquartered in Los Angeles which has won two Academy Awards, has built two Museums of Tolerance (with a third being built in Jerusalem) and is an NGO at the United Nations, UNESCO, OAS, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament. Visit us at www.fswc.ca. 

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