Yom Kippur shooting outside Canadian synagogue was 'hate-motivated', officials say

Image source, Getty Images By Sareen Habeshian Published 57 minutes ago Canadian authorities have confirmed a shooting near a synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, was a "hate-motivated" attack targeting the Jewish community.

The shooting took place outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue on Sunday night during Yom Kippur, the holiest night in the Jewish calendar.

Belleville police chief Murray Rodd said during a Thursday news conference that it was "a deliberate attack directed at members of the Jewish community".

A police officer who was critically injured in the incident continued to fend off the attacker despite being shot multiple times, the police chief said.

The officer, identified as Constable Jeff Smith, suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his head and body, Rodd said. Smith remains in hospital and is expected to undergo multiple surgeries related to "serious head trauma".

"He's making progress every day," the chief said.