Gunman shot by Canadian police outside synagogue dies in hospital
A gunman who was shot by Canadian police after firing on officers outside a synagogue during a Jewish holiday over the weekend has died, an official said Tuesday. A 29-year-old man carrying a shotgun approached a…
A 29-year-old gunman died in the hospital after an armed confrontation with Canadian police outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville, southeastern Ontario. The incident took place on a Sunday evening during Yom Kippur, when worshippers had gathered for the holiest observance on the Jewish calendar. The man approached the building carrying a shotgun and opened fire on officers guarding the venue, prompting them to shoot back. One officer was injured during the exchange and remains hospitalized in stable condition.
The gunman passed away from his injuries on Monday night, according to Kristy Dennette, a spokesperson for Ontario's Special Investigations Unit. While investigators haven't officially declared that the local Jewish community was the intended target, Dennette pointed out that common sense indicates the man meant to attack the synagogue.
The shooting drew swift condemnation from high-ranking leadership, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. It also lands amid a wider, troubled landscape; Canada, along with several other Western nations, has been dealing with a noticeable spike in reported antisemitic incidents over the past few years following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.