Antisemitic flyers spread in Belleville after synagogue shooting

Norman Weddum, president of the Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, discovered four antisemitic flyers posted at the synagogue and throughout the eastern neighbourhood on Thursday morning. He said the volume of the material suggested more than one individual was involved. Local police confirmed they are investigating the distribution of the flyers.

The flyers appear in the wake of a September 20 shooting at the same synagogue, where Const. Jeff Smith sustained multiple gunshot wounds while confronting the shooter, 29-year-old Sean Ward, who later died in hospital. The Canadian Armed Forces noted that Ward had previously served as a corporal before his discharge in 2022. The attack prompted widespread condemnation and a review of security measures at Jewish sites across the country, while the synagogue has resumed services and plans to hold another Friday evening gathering.