On Sunday evening near Belleville's Sons of Jacob Synagogue, a 29-year-old man armed with a rifle exchanged gunfire with police officers while the congregation was gathering for Yom Kippur services. One officer suffered critical but stable injuries and the gunman has life-threatening wounds; both were taken to hospital. The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating the incident, assigning four investigators and two forensic experts. No one inside the synagogue was injured, though all scheduled services for the day were canceled.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Authorities in Belleville are investigating after an exchange of gunfire between a man armed with a rifle and police officers near a synagogue Sunday evening, as many were gathering for Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days in the Jewish faith.
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many → investigate → faith
Sons of Jacob Synagogue says no injures to anyone inside building, rest of Yom Kippur services cancelled
“By now you are probably aware of the incident at the shul during service last night,” the synagogue posted shortly before 2 a.m.
“There were no injuries (to) anyone inside the building.
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synagogue → say → building
As a result all services scheduled for Yom Kippur day are cancelled.
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services → schedule → day
We will let you know when services resume.”
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services → let → ?
The post was signed, “Thanks, Norm.”
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post → sign → ?
Exchange of gunfire between man armed with rifle and police officer near synagogue
The province’s police watchdog says the “exchange of gunfire” near the Son of Jacobs synagogue in Belleville involved a 29-year-old man armed with a rifle and police officers.
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exchange → arm → rifle
The man and one officer were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds, the Special Investigations Unit wrote in a news release on Monday morning.
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Unit → take → morning
The officer is in “critical-stable” condition while the man has life-threatening injuries, the SIU added.
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SIU → have → injuries
Four investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned, the watchdog said.
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watchdog → assign → ?
SIU investigators will be providing an update from the scene at 11 a.m.
Ontario politicians speak out as Toronto police increase patrols in city
Toronto police have increased patrols at synagogues and other places of worship “out of an abundance of caution,” they posted on social media Sunday night, adding that there’s no known threat to Toronto.
“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,” Ford wrote.
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Ford → provide → Kippur
“I expect that all those responsible are arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
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those → expect → law
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow issued a statement regarding the need for increased security for Jewish communities following the incident.
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Chow → issue → incident
“Jewish Torontonians should not need police presence to observe Yom Kippur, or to simply live their day-to-day lives,” she said on social media Sunday night.
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she → need → media
She also added that “no expense will be spared” in keeping the community safe amid rising antisemitism.
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expense → add → antisemitism
Ottawa South MPP John Fraser called the shooting at a place of worship “cowardly and disgusting.”
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Fraser → call → worship
Fraser also said no one at the synagogue was injured.
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one → say → synagogue
Yom Kippur marks end of the holiest period of the year in the Jewish faith
Yom Kippur is the day of atonement in the Jewish faith and lasts from sundown Sunday until there
Yom Kippur, also know as the Day of Atonement, marks the end of the holiest period of the year in the Jewish faith that began with Rosh Hashanah, the new year, at sunset on Sept. 11.
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that → mark → Sept.
Yom Kippur began sundown on Sunday and ends on Monday night.
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Kippur → begin → night
The holiday is typically a sombre occasion for reflection, repentance and asking for forgiveness.
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holiday → ask → forgiveness
Toronto police announced earlier in September that they would up their presence around the High Holy Days after what police chief Myron Demkiw characterized as an uptick in hate-motivated attacks against Jewish businesses and places of worship in recent months.
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Demkiw → announce → months
Shooting leaves police officer, another person injured
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person → leave → officer
A shooting near a Belleville, Ont., synagogue left a police officer injured Sunday night as many were gathering to observe Yom Kippur.
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many → leave → Kippur
An officer encountered an individual at about 7:10 p.m. in the area of Bleecker and Victoria avenues, the Belleville Police Service said in a news release.
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Service → encounter → release
Both were injured and transported to the hospital, police added.
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police → injure → hospital
Officers noted that there was no further threat to public safety, but advised the public to avoid the area.
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Officers → note → area
Belleville police notified Ontario’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit, which later said it invoked its mandate “following an exchange of gunfire near the Sons of Jacob synagogue.
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it → notify → synagogue
A man was in hospital with life-threatening injuries and an officer was hurt, the SIU said.
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SIU → threaten → injuries
The SIU said Monday morning that a spokesperson would provide an update from the area at about 11 a.m.
The watchdog is called to investigate the conduct of officers in Ontario when police interactions may have resulted in death, serious injury, a firearm discharge or sexual assault.
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interactions → say → death
The Aporia
