Canadian leaders have strongly condemned a shooting outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, which occurred at the start of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in the Jewish faith. The incident left a police officer seriously wounded and forced the congregation to cancel services. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his condemnation, stating that Jewish people must be able to practise their faith safely and freely.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also joined in the condemnation, expressing his disgust at the shooting and offering his thoughts to the Jewish community in Belleville and across Ontario. The incident occurred at 19:10 on Sunday, September 21, 2026, when a police officer was stationed outside the synagogue. The shooter, identified as Shawn Ward, 29, from Quinte West, allegedly arrived at the scene in a truck with a shotgun and fired at the officer.
The gun battle that unfolded outside the synagogue involved the injured officer, Constable Jeff Smith, and a second officer who arrived at the scene. Some 20 to 30 shots were fired, with some hitting nearby vehicles and homes. Ward was taken to a hospital in life-threatening condition, while Smith was in an intensive care unit with serious injuries but was expected to recover.
The synagogue president, Norm Weddum, recalled the attack, explaining that he was ushering worshippers into the sanctuary to start the Yom Kippur services when they heard the gunfire. Everyone ran into the synagogue auditorium and closed the doors, with Weddum yelling at everyone to "hit the floor". Once the gunfire stopped, he and other members went to the synagogue doors and saw the impact of the gun battle.
The Belleville Police Service and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) are investigating the incident, with a team of four investigators and two forensic investigators speaking to witnesses and looking through surveillance and body camera video footage. The SIU spokesperson, Kristy Denette, explained that the investigation is ongoing, while Belleville's deputy police chief, Sheri Meeks, characterised the incident as a hate crime.
Meeks stated that antisemitism, hate, and violence have no place in their community and that every person deserves to feel safe when attending a place of worship. There are increased patrols and heightened police presence throughout the city, including houses of worship. Several Canadian politicians, including opposition leader Pierre Poilievre and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, spoke out against the attack.
This incident is part of a larger trend of attacks on synagogues in Ontario, with several having been hit with gunfire earlier this year. The Canadian leaders' condemnation of the shooting highlights the need for a safe and respectful environment for all communities to practise their faith without fear of violence or intimidation.
Key points
- Canadian leaders condemn shooting outside Ontario synagogue on Yom Kippur.
- A police officer was seriously wounded in the incident.
- The incident is being investigated as a hate crime.
