Police officer and civilian wounded in gunfire near Belleville synagogue during Yom Kippur

A police officer and a civilian were wounded in a gunfire exchange near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, on Sunday evening, according to the province's Special Investigations Unit. Belleville police said the officer encountered the man around 7:10 p.m.; both were transported to hospital, with the civilian listed in life-threatening condition.

The synagogue's president, Norman Weddum, said he heard the gunfire while ushering worshippers into the sanctuary and instructed attendees to take cover inside the building. Police have not disclosed what prompted the shooting or whether the synagogue was specifically targeted, and they advised the public to avoid the area while the investigation continues.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford posted that he was "disgusted by the shooting" and affirmed the right of Jewish people to worship safely, calling for the perpetrators to be arrested and prosecuted. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow condemned the violence and emphasized that Jewish residents should not require police presence to observe Yom Kippur. Prime Minister Mark Carney also expressed support for the Jewish community and pledged government assistance to law-enforcement efforts and increased security funding for faith-based institutions.

The Special Investigations Unit has deployed investigators, while York Regional Police indicated no known threat in the region but said patrols around places of worship would be heightened.