A police officer and a man were wounded in an exchange of gunfire near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, on Sunday evening. The incident occurred as members of the Jewish community were gathering to observe Yom Kippur. The man was hospitalized in a life‑threatening condition.
Belleville police said the officer encountered the man at about 7:10 p.m. and that both were taken to a hospital. The Canadian province’s special investigations unit confirmed the shooting took place roughly 110 miles east of Toronto and dispatched investigators to the scene. Police have not disclosed the motive or whether the synagogue or the Jewish community was targeted, and they have asked the public to stay away from the area while the investigation proceeds.
Ontario premier Doug Ford expressed disgust over the shooting, noting that Jewish people have the right to gather safely. He called for those responsible to be arrested and prosecuted and extended his thoughts to the officer and their families. York regional police said there was no known threat in the region but advised increased patrols at places of worship.
The shooting follows a broader pattern of antisemitic attacks in Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney recently warned that the country was failing its Jewish community amid a rise in antisemitism, citing shootings at Jewish schools, firebombings of synagogues, and attacks on community centres and businesses. The government has announced additional funding for security infrastructure, training and personnel at faith‑based institutions. Earlier this year, gunfire had struck synagogues in Vaughan and Toronto, injuring no one and leading to the arrest of three suspects.
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