A violent campus incident in Toronto has ignited serious debate about protest boundaries and security, with prominent voices now calling for certain anti-Israel student groups to be officially designated as terrorist entities.
The Violent Incident at Toronto Metropolitan University
On November 5, 2025, an event organized by Students Supporting Israel at Toronto Metropolitan University was stormed by approximately 40 masked demonstrators. The protesters, their faces concealed by keffiyehs, surrounded the venue's entrances before forcing their way inside, breaking through glass doors in the process.
According to witness accounts and police reports, the demonstrators pounded on windows and doors while screaming that attendees were genocidal war criminals and murderers. The situation escalated so severely that attendees were forced to barricade themselves inside interior rooms while waiting for police to arrive and restore order.
Injuries and Arrests Following the Assault
The guest speaker, Jonathan Karten—an IDF reservist who divides his time between Israel and New York City—suffered significant injuries during the confrontation. Karten sustained deep lacerations to his forearm when a window near him was shattered by a demonstrator, allegedly using a drill bit.
In a video that has since gone viral with over a million views, a bleeding Karten can be seen physically removing trespassers from the venue after confirming with the property owner that he had permission to do so. Five people were arrested following the incident, with Toronto Police confirming that their investigation remains ongoing and additional charges may be forthcoming.
Growing Calls for Terrorist Designation
In the aftermath of what Toronto protest-watcher Caryma Sa'd described as one of the few recent Jewish events in Toronto to draw blood, conservative voices are demanding stronger measures against campus groups that employ violent tactics.
The November 5 assault represents one among dozens of Jewish events in the Toronto area that have been targeted by anti-Israel demonstrators in the two years since October 7. However, the physical violence and injuries sustained during this incident have prompted new calls for the federal government to consider designating the most militant anti-Israel campus groups as terrorist organizations.
Toronto Police summarized the event as involving a group of protesters who forced entry into a private event, causing those in attendance to fear for their safety. The incident has raised serious questions about campus security, free speech boundaries, and the appropriate response to politically motivated violence.
