Motive behind Ontario synagogue shooting attack not yet determined by Canadian police

A team of four investigators and two forensic investigators was assigned to the case, in which a police cruiser, other vehicles, and nearby homes were hit by up to 30-rounds of gunfire.

Canadian police have yet to formally determine the motive behind the shooting outside Congregation Beth Jacob in Belleville, Canada, which occured as worshipers gathered for Yom Kippur prayers on Sunday.

Shortly after the shooting, Israel's Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed described the incident as a "terror attack" and called for an immediate increase in protection for the Jewish community.

Belleville Police Deputy Chief Sheri Meeks said during a briefing that the shooter was 29-year-old Sean Ward of nearby Quinte West, about 18 kilometers from Belleville. He remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

Meeks identified the wounded officer as Jeff Smith, a veteran police officer who has served for 13 years. She said Smith was hospitalized in intensive care and faces a significant recovery, but that his condition had stabilized.

Kristy Denette, a spokeswoman for Ontario's Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which is investigating the incident, said in response to a question that logic pointed toward a terrorist incident targeting the Jewish community. She stressed, however, that the SIU's investigation was focused on the actions of the police officer.

Denette said the scene was complex and that forensic investigators would need several days to complete their work there.

Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis said it was "too early to determine that this was a hate crime," but noted that the location and timing, outside a synagogue on the eve of Yom Kippur, "point in that direction."

None of synagogue's 24 worshippers injured in attack

About 24 worshipers were inside the synagogue at the time of the shooting, Meeks said. None were injured. She added that antisemitism, hatred, and violence were unacceptable in the community.

Following the incident, police increased their presence across the city, including around houses of worship.

Israel's Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem said the terror attack against Congregation Beth Jacob in Belleville on the eve of Yom Kippur marked a further escalation in Canada's antisemitism crisis.

"Our thoughts are with the police officer who acted with extraordinary courage and was wounded in the line of duty. We pray for his full and speedy recovery," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said. "Israel stands in solidarity with the Jewish community in Canada, which is confronting an increasingly threatening reality."

The ministry added that "open incitement that goes untreated in the public sphere, together with anti-Israel policies, fuels antisemitism. A change is needed."

Denette said Belleville Police were conducting a parallel investigation that included examining the suspect's motive. She declined to say whether others directed or activated the suspect, repeatedly saying the question fell outside the scope of the SIU's investigation.

On-duty police officer guarding synagogue was first target of shooting

According to Denette, the suspect arrived in his vehicle, believed to have been a pickup truck, at around 7 p.m. while armed with a shotgun. He fired first, initially targeting the on-duty police officer who was securing the synagogue.

The officer returned fire, and a second officer later arrived and also opened fire. The suspect and the first officer were both struck.

The scene extended for roughly half a block. Witness accounts and the preliminary investigation indicated that as many as 30 rounds were fired. A police cruiser, other vehicles, and nearby homes were hit.

A team of four investigators and two forensic investigators was assigned to the case. They collected evidence, reviewed security footage, police body-camera recordings, and vehicle-camera footage, and took witness statements.