UPDATE: Six Arrested After Protesters Forcibly Enter Off-Campus Event Near Bay and Elm Streets

TORONTO — Toronto police announced a sixth arrest Thursday in connection with a forcible entry at a private off-campus event near Bay Street and Elm Street on Nov. 5. The accused, identified as 26-year-old Qabil Ibrahim of Toronto, was taken into custody after a search warrant was executed on Nov. 12 and charged with forcible entry, two counts of mischief, assault and being a member of an unlawful assembly while masked.

Police say officers first attended the area at approximately 1:13 p.m. on Nov. 5 after a call reporting an unknown trouble. Investigators allege a group of demonstrators entered a private event without permission, forced entry into the building, damaged property, and entered a common area where attendees were gathered, causing those present to fear for their safety. One individual sustained injuries from broken glass, police said.

Five people were arrested at the scene following the initial response and later charged with a combination of forcible entry, membership in an unlawful assembly, obstructing a peace officer, and assaulting a peace officer. Police said one individual resisted arrest and assaulted an officer during the arrest process. Those charges and court dates were listed in Toronto Police Service news releases.

Videos and social media accounts linked to both organizers and protesters show a chaotic confrontation at the rented venue as Students Supporting Israel at Toronto Metropolitan University, known as SSI TMU, prepared to host two former Israel Defence Forces speakers. Local student publications reported footage of an interior glass door being shattered during the incident, though authorities and independent coverage repeatedly attributed specific allegations to police investigators.

Toronto Metropolitan University said it was deeply concerned about the violence and disruption. In an official statement, the university condemned acts of aggression, intimidation, and violence and said it would review its policies to determine any further action. TMU also expressed concern for students who may have been injured during the incident.

Students Supporting Israel described the event as having “turned into absolute chaos” after demonstrators entered the rented room. SSI TMU posted a video of the disruption to social media and said organizers were forced to halt the program.

Groups aligned with Students for Justice in Palestine and other campus activists had posted calls to protest the off-campus appearance, according to student media accounts. Those posts called for a demonstration against the presence of former IDF personnel speaking in Toronto.

The Toronto Police Service said investigators allege one of the accused used a tool to shatter an interior glass door, assaulted a person who attempted to intervene, and then left the building while the demonstration continued. Police executed a search warrant at the suspect’s address on Nov. 12 and laid the additional charges. The accused appeared at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre on the same day.

Court dates for the individuals arrested range into January 2026, according to police releases. Members of the public with information were asked to contact Toronto police or submit tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers.

Campus leaders and Jewish community groups said they view the incident as a reminder of the volatile environment facing pro-Israel students who invite speakers with military backgrounds. At the same time, student organizers on the other side of the dispute said they were exercising protest and free expression, while police said unlawful entry and property damage are criminal matters that will be pursued through the courts.

Toronto police have not identified any motive beyond the criminal allegations contained in their news releases. Police and university officials said investigations remain active. The Toronto Police Service reiterated that the safety of the public and of lawful gatherings is a priority.

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This article is based on verified information from the Toronto Police Service, Toronto Metropolitan University, CityNews Toronto, The Varsity, and The Canadian Jewish News.