Various police departments across Canada are taking measures to be prepared for Hamas’ Day of Jihad on Friday. .The Calgary Police Service (CPS) said it has heard through its community partnerships the events in the Middle East are generating fear in Calgary communities. ."We are working with our partners to monitor the situation locally, nationally and internationally and continue to work with the community to ensure everyone feels safe," tweeted CPS on Thursday.."At this time, there is no direct threat to the public in Calgary.".CPS said it has increased patrols near local places of worship and some other areas of significance. .It acknowledged there might be demonstrations planned in Calgary. With all major planned events and demonstrations, it said it is “standard practice for police to monitor the events, manage public safety, keep the peace and respond to any calls for service accordingly.” .It will work with groups who want to organize events providing safe, peaceful opportunities for demonstrators to exercise their lawful rights. Its objective is to work with all parties to ensure public and officer safety and to maintain conduct and peace. .CPS concluded by saying it polices behaviour, not beliefs..“Hate-motivated crimes of any kind have no place in our community and we will not tolerate behaviour contrary to the law that is associated with hate speech or harassment,” it said. .Edmonton Police Service media relations officer Cheryl Voordenhout said there are no direct threats to public safety. .“We will be putting out a statement, likely today,” said Voordenhout. .In Ontario, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) said it monitors world events to assess how they might impact the safety and security of residents and is aware of threats circulating online about the Day of Jihad. .“The Service is advising residents that there are currently no credible threats to Jewish communities in our city,” said TPS. .“In response to the terror attack in Israel last weekend, the Service immediately increased patrols in Jewish communities, along with cultural centres, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship across the city.”.TPS said people can expect to see a continued, increased police presence. It is working with federal and provincial counterparts and other law enforcement agencies to ensure co-ordination and information sharing. .To ensure maximum safety, TPS set up command centres at Bathurst St. and Lawrence Ave. and Bathurst and Glencairn Ave. to support Toronto’s Jewish communities. .It brought in a police van and a few cruisers to be prepared for any potential violence. .Public Safety, Democratic Institutions, and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc said he has been “in regular contact with senior leadership at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to remain apprised of their efforts to keep Jewish communities and their institutions safe.” .“I have every confidence that they are treating these concerns with the utmost importance and will continue to exercise heightened vigilance around places of significance to the Jewish community,” said LeBlanc. .“As Minister [Arif] Virani and I met with our provincial and territorial Justice and Public Safety counterparts, we will address the concerning rise in hate crimes we are witnessing in our communities and how we can all work together to combat it.” .As Canadians, LeBlanc said they look out for each other. They care for each other. .And to try and head off any problems, the French government has banned pro-Palestinian demonstrations..Former Hamas leader Khalid Mashal said on Tuesday Muslims worldwide should apply jihad “on the ground rather than just in theory.” .READ MORE: Former Hamas leader Khalid Mashal calls for global ‘Jihad applied on the ground’ on Friday.Mashal called Friday the Friday of Al-Aqsa Flood in a YouTube video that was removed from the platform after less than one day. .He asked Muslims to fulfill four criteria at midday on Friday.
