Gunfire Near Ontario Synagogue on Yom Kippur Wounds Officer and Man
A police officer and a man were wounded in an exchange of gunfire near a Belleville, Ontario synagogue as Jewish communities marked Yom Kippur.
A police officer and a man were wounded in an exchange of gunfire near a synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, on Sunday evening, as members of the Jewish community observed Yom Kippur, authorities said.
The man was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition, while the officer was also hospitalized. Belleville police said the officer encountered the man at around 7:10 p.m. near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue, roughly 110 miles east of Toronto.
Ontario's Special Investigations Unit, the civilian agency that examines serious incidents involving police, has dispatched investigators to the scene. The unit said the gunfire occurred near the synagogue.
Police have not said what prompted the shooting or whether the synagogue or the Jewish community was targeted. They said there was no risk to public safety and asked residents to avoid the area while officers investigated. Belleville police added that they would not release further details while the investigation was ongoing.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the shooting took place outside the synagogue as people gathered for Yom Kippur. In a social media post, Ford said he was disgusted by the incident and that Jewish people "have every right to gather and worship safely and without fear." He called for those responsible to be arrested and prosecuted, and expressed his thoughts for the wounded officer, their family and loved ones.
York Regional Police said there was no known threat in the region but that residents should expect increased patrols at places of worship.
Sunday's shooting comes months after Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that Canada was failing its Jewish community amid a surge in antisemitism. Carney cited shootings at Jewish schools, firebombings of synagogues and attacks on community centers and Jewish-owned businesses. His government announced millions in additional funding to help faith-based institutions pay for security infrastructure, training and personnel.
Synagogues in the Toronto area have also previously been targeted by gunfire. In March, shots damaged the entrances of synagogues in Vaughan and Toronto. No one was injured. Police later arrested three suspects in connection with those shootings.