OMM Redaksiyası
Canadian authorities have described a shooting outside a synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, as a hate-motivated attack targeting the Jewish community, according to the BBC.
The incident took place on Sunday night outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue during Yom Kippur, the holiest period in the Jewish calendar. Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd said the shooting was “a deliberate attack directed at members of the Jewish community”.
Police officer seriously injured while confronting attacker
Constable Jeff Smith was shot multiple times in the head and body after encountering the gunman. Despite sustaining life-threatening injuries, Smith left his vehicle and engaged the attacker to stop the assault, Rodd said.
Smith remains in hospital and is expected to undergo several operations related to “serious head trauma”. The chief said the officer was “making progress every day” and remained in critical but stable condition.
Constable Mike McCurdy arrived nearly three minutes later and joined the exchange of gunfire, helping end the attack. McCurdy was not injured. Authorities said both officers fired their weapons, while around 20 to 30 shots were discharged.
Suspect dies after being taken to hospital
Police identified the gunman as 29-year-old Sean Ward from Quinte West, a community near Belleville and about 170 kilometres east of Toronto. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries and later died.
Rodd described the attempted attack as a “hate-motivated crime”. Toronto police have increased patrols around synagogues and other places of worship as a precaution.
Jewish community leaders, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and other politicians condemned antisemitic violence following the incident.
Noah Shack, chief executive of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said that without Smith’s bravery, Canadians could have faced “the type of mass-casualty terror attack our security services have warned is a realistic possibility”. He urged Canadian leaders to take “urgent and concrete actions” against threats to the Jewish community.
Carney wrote on X earlier this week that “Jewish people must be able to worship safely. To live free, open, proud Jewish lives.”
