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‘Disgusting’ antisemitic flyers distributed in Belleville weeks after synagogue shooting

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Cite

Greenberg, C. (2026, October 2). ‘Disgusting’ antisemitic flyers distributed in Belleville weeks after synagogue shooting. National Post. https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/antisemitic-flyers-belleville

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

National Post · collected 2026-10-02 · by Courtney Greenberg

Quick Summary

Antisemitic flyers were distributed in the east end of Belleville shortly after a hate-motivated shooting at the Sons of Jacob Synagogue on September 20, which left Constable Jeff Smith injured. Norman Weddum, president of the synagogue, described the flyer distribution as “disgusting.” The flyers contained conspiracy theories blaming Jews for issues like the COVID-19 pandemic and other societal problems. Police are investigating and have increased patrols in areas where hate crimes occurred to support community safety.
Written by AI on 2026-10-02, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

In Belleville, Ontario, police are investigating antisemitic flyers distributed in the city's east end less than two weeks after a gunman was killed attempting to attack the Sons of Jacob Synagogue on Yom Kippur. The incident is particularly disturbing as it follows a shooting that left an officer seriously injured and prompted synagogues across Canada to review their security measures. Norman Weddum, president of the targeted synagogue, described the flyer distribution as "disgusting" and noted that multiple flyers blaming Jewish people for various societal issues were found near the synagogue and throughout the city's east end. Police Chief Murray Rodd stated they are in contact with community leaders to ensure safety and have been proactive by continuing patrols around religious spaces.

Written for “Antisemitic Flyers In Belleville” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Antisemitic Flyers In Belleville
Crime & Law · 3 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 13% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Global News
Hedges 0 of 14 claims Outlet record 63/100
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
23
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
13%
3 of 23 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
withheld
no quote in the article backed the model's score
Publisher signals
60/100
National Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
3
Crime & Law
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-10-02 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

National Post · 1242 article(s) · 2 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 2 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Courtney Greenberg
20 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 We will always be on the side of of building and not destroying, and hoping to help be a positive force in this world that we live in.”
🔮 The father of Tumbler Ridge shooting survivor David Gebala says his daughter Maya, who was severely injured in February, is being released from the hospital.
🔮 Prime Minister Mark Carney said his recognition was conditional, and would be based on whether Hamas would “fully disarm, and play no role in the future governance of Palestine.”
🔮 The father of two Jewish students attending Western University in London, Ont. says his daughters remain courageous and will continue to be proud of their faith after a swastika was drawn near their off-campus home.
🔮 The same member was accused of cheating because they could not take an exam on Shabbat, they said.
🔮 “At the same time, freedom of expression is not without limits, and concerns that published content may contravene Canadian law warrant careful review and consideration.”
🔮 Another reason why terror groups might recruit in Canada?
🔮 An anti-Israel event intended to “honour martyrs” at the University of Toronto on Oct. 7 will no longer be permitted.
🔮 After the attack, police shared a video where Ward could be heard shouting “You are going to die for the Jews” before shooting at Smith.
🔮 According to Israeli media outlet Channel 16, a colleague of the suspect said he would not shake hands with women, the New York Post reported.
Also by Courtney Greenberg
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 20 articles by Courtney Greenberg →

Topics

Belleville Jewish Jews National Post Ont

Subjects

Jewish NORP · 5× Belleville GPE · 4× Jews NORP · 3× Ward PERSON · 3× National Post ORG · 2× Smith PERSON · 2× Weddum PERSON · 2× Norman Weddum PERSON · 1× Ont GPE · 1× Sons of Jacob Synagogue ORG · 1×

Narrative

“Canada’s security services have sounded the alarm of the current situation in which acts of antisemitism become so prevalent and frequent that they create an environment that influence extremists toward more violent pathways.”
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-02
🔮 After the attack, police shared a video where Ward could be heard shouting “You are going to die for the Jews” before shooting at Smith.

Claims (23 extracted, 3 hedged)

Not even two weeks after a hate-motivated attack on a synagogue in Belleville, Ont., antisemitic flyers were distributed in the city’s east end, according to police. uncertain
flyers → motivate → police
Norman Weddum, the president of the synagogue that was targeted, called it “disgusting.” asserted
that → target → it
“It was so soon after the shooting,” he said. asserted
he → say → shooting
“What’s going on here?” asserted
What → go → ?
The Jewish community in the area is still recovering from the Sept. 20 shooting at Sons of Jacob Synagogue, which left Const. Jeff Smith seriously injured. asserted
which → recover → Smith
He was stationed outside the building on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, when 29-year-old Sean Ward opened fire. asserted
Ward → station → fire
Doug Lobel was also attending that service when dozens of shots rang out. asserted
dozens → attend → shots
“Just over a week ago, I was there that night of the shooting, and like many in our community, I had only begun the process of trying to heal and regain a sense of safety,” he told National Post. asserted
he → begin → Post
“Seeing these flyers posted around the east side of Belleville near the synagogue yesterday has brought that night and all those emotions rushing back. asserted
flyers → see → night
Weddum said he’s not sure how many people were involved with handing out the flyers, or if it was only one person, but there were “a lot” distributed. asserted
it → say → flyers
Copies of the flyers shared with National Post showed messaging that promoted conspiracy theories blaming the Jewish community for the COVID-19 pandemic, abortion, gun control and mass immigration. asserted
that → share → pandemic
The synagogue shooter reportedly “spouted” a theory that blamed Jews for COVID and was discharged from the Canadian Armed Forces due to his refusal to receive the COVID vaccine. uncertain
that → spout → vaccine
After the attack, police shared a video where Ward could be heard shouting “You are going to die for the Jews” before shooting at Smith. uncertain
You → share → Smith
Police said the shooting deliberately targeted the Jewish community and Ward had the “means, the motive and the mechanisms” to carry out a bigger attack. asserted
Ward → say → attack
Ward later died in hospital. asserted
Ward → die → hospital
The Belleville Police Service said it was aware of “flyers being distributed in the east end of Belleville containing antisemitic messaging” on Oct. 1. asserted
it → say → Oct.
It is asking anyone with information or video evidence to share it. asserted
It → ask → it
Police have been in contact with community leaders and are “taking proactive steps to support the safety and well-being of residents.” asserted
Police → take → residents
Increased patrols are continuing in Belleville at places of worship as well as other community gathering spaces. asserted
patrols → continue → worship
Jewish advocacy groups, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto released a statement on X saying that the flyers are “more than hateful rhetoric.” asserted
flyers → release → rhetoric
“Libels and conspiracies about Jews and Israelis are fuelling hate and violence against Canadians,” it said. asserted
it → fuel → Canadians
“Canada’s security services have sounded the alarm of the current situation in which acts of antisemitism become so prevalent and frequent that they create an environment that influence extremists toward more violent pathways.” asserted
that → sound → pathways
Although McCurdy was not injured, the description of the fundraiser online says “the emotional toll of this experience is significant, and mental recovery is just as vital as physical healing.” asserted
recovery → injure → healing
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