Gunfire near Belleville synagogue wounds officer and man on Yom Kippur

A police officer and an unidentified man were wounded in an exchange of gunfire near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, around 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2026, as worshippers marked Yom Kippur. Both went to hospital. The man was reported in life-threatening condition. The site is at Bleecker and Victoria Avenues, about 110 miles east of Toronto. Former area MP Ryan Williams posted photos that appear to show more than a dozen bullet holes in the synagogue's stained glass. Ontario Premier Doug Ford wrote: "I'm disgusted by the shooting that took place outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville earlier this evening as Jewish community members gathered to mark Yom Kippur." He said Jewish people have every right to worship safely, expected full prosecution, and thanked the wounded officer and first responders. Ontario's Special Investigations Unit, the province's civilian police watchdog, is investigating the police-involved shooting. Police said it is unclear if the synagogue was targeted and there is no active threat to public safety. Toronto and York Regional Police said they will increase patrols at places of worship out of caution. CONTESTED: No dispute exists on the injuries, time, place, or SIU role. What led to the gunfire and whether the synagogue was specifically targeted remain unresolved.