BREAKING: Shooting targets Toronto-area Iranian activist's boxing club the night after Khamenei's death

The shooting comes as tensions ripple through Iranian diaspora communities following the reported killing of the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Scarlett Grace
  |   March 01, 2026   |   News Analysis   |   3 Comments

Richmond Hill, Ontario – March 1, 2026 – In the early hours of this morning, a shooting targeted Saliwan Boxing, a Richmond Hill business owned by prominent Iranian activist Salar Gholami, raising urgent questions about whether the attack constitutes an act of terrorism linked to political tensions in Iran.

The incident, which involved 17 gunshots fired into the unoccupied building, comes less than a day after the death of the Islamic Republic in Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, amid ongoing protests in Toronto supporting the Iranian uprising.

York Regional Police confirmed the shooting occurred around 3:00 a.m. on the east side of Yonge Street, north of Steeles Avenue West. Officers investigating the scene found clear evidence of gunfire directed at the commercial property, with damage confined to the structure itself. Fortunately, the building was empty at the time, and no injuries were reported.

"The premise shows evidence of gunfire directed at the building," police stated in an official release, withholding suspect details as the investigation unfolds. Authorities are urging witnesses or those with surveillance footage from the area to contact the #2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-830-0303 ext. 7241, referencing case #G02671860.

Gholami, an Iranian patriot and lead organizer of massive rallies that have drawn hundreds of thousands to Toronto's streets over the past two months, described the attack as a "terrorist" assault in his Instagram videos posted this morning. He revealed that Saliwan Boxing has served as the de facto headquarters for these solidarity efforts, amplifying voices against the Islamic Republic during Iran's nationwide uprising.

"A group of terrorists attacked our club and opened fire," Gholami said. "Seventeen shots fired... This club has been the headquarters of our activities in Toronto." He connected the timing to Khamenei's death, suggesting it fueled fear among regime supporters, and emphasized the potential for tragedy: the venue had hosted families, including young children and teenagers, dancing until late the previous night. "They're such terrorists... They could've killed them right here," he added, vowing to continue the fight. "We will take back Iran. This is the final battle."

The attack's political undertones have ignited debate over its classification as terrorism: a targeted strike against a symbol of dissent, intended to intimidate activists abroad.

Gholami's rallies have positioned Toronto as a global hub for the Iranian revolution, clashing with alleged Islamic Republic agents in the diaspora. "These seventeen shots showed seventeen times they were scared," Gholami stated, framing the incident as retaliation against anti-regime efforts, including attacks on IRGC bases in Iran.

Undeterred, Gholami urged supporters to gather at the U.S. consulate at 1:00 p.m. today with flowers, declaring, "We won't let them silence their voices." As police probe for suspects, community leaders warn this could escalate tensions, urging vigilance. Investigations continue, with no arrests yet.

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Scarlett Grace

Anti-Discrimination Reporter

Scarlett Grace is a Canadian journalist and musician from Peterborough, Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Trent University and has spent over a decade performing live and releasing original music.

In 2022, her involvement in Canada’s freedom movement marked a turning point in her career and public voice. She later joined Rebel News, where she works as an anti-discrimination journalist, reporting extensively on the rise of antisemitism in Canada and the Iranian uprising.

https://twitter.com/ScarlettGrace92

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  • Bruce Atchison
    commented 2026-03-02 21:08:23 -0500
    This IS a terrorist attack. The IRGC thugs want their enemies frightened. I also hope the police haven’t been bought off and this will be investigated with rigour. We citizens must have a government that dispenses justice rather than favouritism.
  • jerry stone
    commented 2026-03-02 17:02:22 -0500
    THEY WILL GET NO SUPPORT FROM Carnival Chiarney as these people support Kanadian values not the Ham-ass death cult
  • susan gerbes
    commented 2026-03-02 11:30:09 -0500
    the tyrannical Islamist regime….sounds similar to the Chinese, and the Tiennanmen Square incident…..shoot them if they disagree with the government, and now sounds like Chinada, only Chinada just freezes bank accounts, ruins lives, and jails without bail. And people are still in the dark about how evil Carnage is…..