Yom Kippur services were cancelled at a synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, after a police officer and another person were injured in a shooting near the place of worship as Jewish worshippers gathered for the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
The incident occurred around 7:10 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of Bleecker Avenue and Victoria Avenue, where the Sons of Jacob Synagogue is located.
According to CNN, the Belleville Police Service said an officer encountered an individual in the area, after which both sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.
Authorities have not disclosed the identities or conditions of the officer and the other injured person, while the circumstances surrounding the shooting and what prompted the encounter remain unclear.
Despite the proximity of the incident to the synagogue, police said there was no continuing threat to public safety.
The synagogue confirmed that no one inside the building was injured but said all Yom Kippur services were cancelled following the incident, disrupting worship on a day of profound religious significance for the Jewish community.
The shooting has nevertheless prompted a heightened security response, with York Regional Police announcing increased patrols and a more visible police presence around places where people gather for worship.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed support for the Jewish community in Belleville and across the province, while commending the officer and other first responders involved in securing the area.
Ford said people should be able to gather for worship safely and without fear, as authorities continue to establish what led to the incident.
The Ontario Special Investigations Unit is also expected to be involved in examining the circumstances surrounding the police-involved shooting, while investigators continue gathering information.
With key details about the encounter still unavailable, authorities have yet to establish the motive or provide a full account of how the shooting unfolded. The investigation remains ongoing.
