Antisemitic flyers found in the Ontario neighbourhood where a man fired near a synagogue on Yom Kippur

JTA – Police in the Ontario town where a gunman charged the Sons of Jacob Synagogue on Yom Kippur are investigating antisemitic flyers distributed around the synagogue’s neighbourhood. 

In a 1 October press release, Belleville police encouraged those with tips or video evidence to contact police. 

“We recognise that incidents such as this can cause concern within our community,” the police said. “Hate has no place in Belleville, and the Belleville Police Service remains in contact with community leaders and are taking proactive steps to support the safety and well-being of residents.” 

Police have not identified the distributor of the flyers, and no arrests have been made. 

The Canadian Jewish News published photos of the flyers, which included antisemitic conspiracy theories, such as “every single aspect of the COVID-19 agenda is Jewish” and “every single aspect of abortion is Jewish”. 

Coming so soon after the attack, the flyers rattled Sons of Jacob congregant Sari Watson, 40. “It’s so incredibly concerning to see this sort of antisemitic rhetoric surface, less than two weeks after the shooting,” said Watson, who skipped attending services the night of the shooting because she was wary of the increase in antisemitic violence in Canada. “This is a sign that this sort of hatred has infiltrated the public consciousness here.” 

Belleville police chief Murray Rodd has confirmed the 20 September attack was deliberate. 

“This was an exclusive threat to our Jewish community,” he said soon after the attack. “There is no indication there was a threat to any other population or segment of our community, and it was a hate-motivated crime.” 

According to police and Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, the shooter, identified as 29-year-old Sean Ward of nearby Quinte West, Ontario, opened fire on Constable Jeff Smith, who was stationed outside the synagogue as security. Smith, who was seriously wounded, returned fire, and another officer who arrived at the scene also fired at Ward. Ward later died of his injuries. Smith remains hospitalised. 

A GoFundMe site dedicated to Smith’s recovery has raised nearly $1 million (R16.7 million) on behalf of the Canadian Jewish community.