Gunman Who Blamed Jews for COVID-19 Dies After Attacking Canadian Synagogue

The suspect in a shooting attack near the "Bnei Yaakov" synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, on the eve of Yom Kippur, Sean Ward, has died from his wounds. Ward, 29, was injured in a firefight with police on Sunday evening as approximately 25 people gathered for Kol Nidre prayers. The first officer on the scene, Jeff Smith, was seriously wounded and remains in stable condition. Investigators believe Ward arrived in a pickup truck and opened fire on Smith, who was in an unmarked police car outside the synagogue. Smith returned fire, and another responding officer also discharged his weapon. Between 20 to 30 bullets were exchanged, damaging the synagogue's windows, nearby vehicles, and homes. No worshippers were harmed, with synagogue president Norman Woodum recounting how he heard the shots and instructed everyone to lie down. Ward, a former Canadian Forces infantry soldier who served from 2017 to 2022, had previously spread conspiracy theories, including blaming Jews for the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities are still determining if Ward specifically targeted the synagogue, its worshippers, or the police. However, Ontario's Minister of Public Safety, Michael Kerzner, called the incident an antisemitic attack, stating that the officers prevented a "massacre in the making."

Meanwhile, on Yom Kippur itself, hundreds gathered in Brooklyn, New York, for a "Yizkor" (remembrance) ceremony for Palestinians killed in Gaza. Speakers, including pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, condemned the violence and called for accountability. The event was organized by Jewish leftist groups and included calls to end U.S. military aid to Israel. Brad Lander, a former New York City Comptroller candidate, also spoke, acknowledging a connection to Israel but stating, "Our confession, our confession, must focus on our complicity in what I see as genocide in Gaza." The Brooklyn ceremony, held for the third year, involved participants reading names of deceased Palestinians and performing symbolic acts of mourning. In Belleville, approximately 150 people attended a rally in support of the Jewish community, with the synagogue president vowing to resume services and outlining plans for repairs and enhanced security measures.