Synagogue shooting in Belleville ruled deliberate antisemitic hate attack

Belleville police confirmed the Sunday shooting near a synagogue during Yom Kippur was a hate-motivated, deliberate attack targeting the Jewish community. The suspect, Sean Ward, 29, died in hospital; the wounded officer remains in critical but stable condition.

Belleville synagogue shooting confirmed as deliberate antisemitic hate crime

Belleville police have formally classified last Sunday's shooting outside a local synagogue as a deliberate, hate-motivated attack against the Jewish community, ici.radio-canada.ca reports. The incident occurred during Yom Kippur celebrations, described by police as "one of the holiest observances of the year."

Police allege Sean Ward, a 29-year-old man from Quinte West, approached the synagogue and opened fire on Constable Jeff Smith, who was stationed at the entrance as part of his regular duties. Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd said Smith had noticed Ward pass by earlier that day without cause for concern.

"He was then ambushed on a second pass," Rodd told reporters Thursday.

A video recording taken near the scene shows the shooter apparently telling Smith, "You are going to die for the Jews." Police played the footage during Thursday's press update.

Ontario's Special Investigations Unit confirmed Tuesday that Ward died in hospital Monday night. Smith remains in hospital in critical but stable condition and is expected to require multiple surgeries for what Rodd described as "serious head trauma."

"Despite suffering life-threatening injuries within moments of encountering the armed suspect, Constable Smith exited his vehicle and engaged the attacker. He was shot multiple times and stayed engaged," Rodd said.

A second officer, Michael McCurdy, arrived within three minutes and engaged the attacker without sustaining injuries. Rodd credited both officers with preventing a mass casualty event.

"The suspect had the means, the motive and the mechanisms to cause a mass casualty and the destruction of the Jewish synagogue," the chief said.

Approximately two dozen people were inside the synagogue at the time of the attack. No one inside was injured. Police said materials found in Ward's car would be considered "combustible," and that additional evidence corroborating his intent had been recovered, though Rodd declined to specify further.

Norm Weddum, president of the Sons of Jacob congregation, said he was inside the building when the shooting took place and was uncertain of what was unfolding outside.

"After seeing this video, I'm almost at a loss for words. It's very sobering," Weddum told reporters. "He had the means to eliminate all of us in the synagogue and then probably destroy the synagogue as well."

Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, who said he had spent two days in Belleville meeting with police, the mayor, and community members, condemned the attack in strong terms.

"A line of decency of having an individual act in such a hateful and anti-Semitic attack is unacceptable," Kerzner said. "We have to go further and faster. We have to have a clear call that there must be consequences for people that behave in this manner."

Military sources speaking on condition of anonymity told Global News that Ward had served with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry for approximately five years before being discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. Those sources said Ward had expressed a range of pandemic-related conspiracy theories, including claims blaming Jewish people for the spread of COVID-19.

Documents obtained by Global News show Ward was based at CFB Edmonton when he declined the vaccine on "religious grounds" and was subsequently deemed "unsuitable for further military service." A lawsuit filed in Federal Court on his behalf alleged he had incurred $140,000 in financial losses following his dismissal and that he and other plaintiffs suffered "permanent psychological, physical and emotional trauma" and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of their discharge. The federal government denied those allegations.

A military spokesperson declined to comment on the conspiracy-related allegations, citing the Privacy Act.

Simon Wolle, CEO of the Jewish organization B'nai Brith, said the police confirmation of a hate-motivated attack was not unexpected, but remained deeply affecting.

"I'm not surprised. I feel angry, sad, infuriated," Wolle said Thursday.

He stressed that the attack had implications far beyond the local Jewish community.

"This is not our Canada and we can't allow it to continue to be Canada," he said. "This is not a Jewish community problem. This attack was on the Jewish community. This is a Canadian problem."

Smith's wife posted a message on Facebook Wednesday thanking supporters for the "outpouring of love and support" and extending condolences to Belleville's Jewish community.

"Please know that your love, your prayers and your support have reached us. We are deeply grateful. We love you, we see you, we pray for you," she wrote.

A crowdfunding campaign established on behalf of Canada's Jewish community to support Smith and his family has raised more than $560,000 since the shooting. Organizers referenced the Jewish principle of pikuach nefesh — the preservation of human life — writing that Smith "fulfilled that obligation not through words, but through courage."

Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)