Carney condemns Yom Kippur shooting outside Canadian synagogue
The Sunday night shooting left an officer in critical-but-stable condition and the suspect in life-threatening condition.
Carney denounces Yom Kippur shooting outside Canadian synagogue
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and other politicians have condemned antisemitic violence after a shooting near a Jewish synagogue left a police officer critically injured.
The shooting happened outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, on Sunday night during Yom Kippur, the holiest night in the Jewish calendar.
Police have not said what motivated the attack or whether the synagogue was the intended target, but they said a suspect armed with a shotgun opened fire on a police officer stationed outside.
"Jewish people must be able to worship safely," Carney wrote on X. "To live free, open, proud Jewish lives."
Ontario's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) spokesperson Kristy Denette said on Monday that the shooting took place at about 19:00 local time on Sunday night. Denette said the officer returned fire and that another officer also discharged a weapon.
Denette said roughly 20 to 30 shots were fired, leaving the suspect in life-threatening condition and one officer in critical but stable condition.
"It would have been quite, quite the scene indeed," she added.
When asked whether the incident was being treated as a terrorist attack, Denette said that "common sense would say that probably was the case".
In line with Carney's condemnation, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he is "disgusted" by the shooting and said Jewish community members "have every right to gather and worship safely and without fear".
Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre wrote on social media that "this vile antisemitic violence in Canada must end" and called on Carney's government to "act now to protect our people".
Deputy Chief Sheri Meeks said the Belleville Police Service has stepped up patrols and will keep a heightened presence across the city, including near places of worship.
The police service is continuing to investigate the incident, along with the SIU, a watchdog that probes officer-involved shootings.
Police in Toronto, about 116 miles (187km) from Belleville, also said they were boosting patrols outside synagogues and places of worship out of an abundance of caution.