Synagogue Shooting

Belleville, Ontario. A gunman opened fire outside a synagogue there on Yom Kippur, wounding a police officer in an exchange of gunfire, authorities said Monday.

Police identified the shooter as Sean Ward, 29, of nearby Quinte West, CNN reported. The wounded officer is Constable Jeff Smith, a 13-year veteran of the Belleville force, according to the National Post.

Ward arrived in a black pickup truck around 7 p.m. and fired a shotgun at Smith, who was parked nearby in an unmarked vehicle providing security for the congregation, Ontario's Special Investigations Unit said, according to CNN. Smith fired back. A second officer arrived and opened fire too, striking Ward, the National Post reported. Investigators counted dozens of bullet holes in the street, SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette told the National Post.

Ward's vital signs briefly disappeared before he was revived, Denette said, according to the National Post. Doctors listed both men in critical condition at Kingston General Hospital.

Inside Sons of Jacob Synagogue, congregants had gathered to mark the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Synagogue president Norm Weddum told CNN the officer's actions saved everyone inside. Bullets riddled the building, he said. He heard a series of bangs, then shouted for people to get back before locking the sanctuary doors.

Prime Minister Mark Carney had warned for months that Canada was failing to protect its Jewish community, the Guardian reported. His government pledged extra funding for security at faith institutions. In March, gunfire damaged synagogue entrances in Vaughan and Toronto. Police arrested three suspects in that case, according to the Guardian.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the shooting disgusting and demanded arrests, the Guardian reported. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said no expense would be spared to protect the Jewish community, the Toronto Star reported. Cowardly, Ottawa South legislator John Fraser called it.

Belleville police said they would release no further details while the SIU investigation continues. York Regional Police and Toronto police increased patrols at synagogues and other houses of worship, the Guardian and the Star reported. Officials said there was no ongoing threat to public safety.

Asked whether the shooting amounted to a terrorist attack, Denette told reporters, "common sense would say that probably was the case."