--- title: "Antisemitic flyers distributed at Belleville synagogue after shooting" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/antisemitic-flyers-distributed-at-belleville-synagogue-after-shooting" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/antisemitic-flyers-distributed-at-belleville-synagogue-after-shooting" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/antisemitic-flyers-distributed-at-belleville-synagogue-after-shooting.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/antisemitic-flyers-distributed-at-belleville-synagogue-after-shooting" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-02T19:25:28.267Z" source_reported: "2026-10-02T18:59:55.000Z" updated: "2026-10-02T19:25:28.267Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 70 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-02T19:00:22.176Z" --- # Antisemitic flyers distributed at Belleville synagogue after shooting *Police are investigating the distribution of flyers blaming Jewish people after a recent attack on the synagogue.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports and five digests corroborate the central claim, with one full report naming the synagogue president. - Craft 70 of 100, higher is better. Reports clearly separate fact from comment and provide specific details about the incident and the prior shooting. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use strong but appropriate adjectives like 'disturbing' and 'disgusting' to describe the events. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Antisemitic flyers blaming Jewish people were distributed to the Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, and nearby areas. - The flyers were distributed after a Sept. 20 shooting at the synagogue, which police described as a thwarted mass killing. - The shooter, Sean Ward, was a former Canadian Armed Forces soldier. - Police are aware of the flyer distribution and are investigating the incident. Antisemitic flyers were distributed this week to the Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, and surrounding neighbourhoods. Norman Weddum, president of the synagogue, stated he found four different flyers blaming Jewish people for various issues. Police have confirmed they are aware of the flyers and are actively investigating the incident. The distribution of the flyers occurred after a Sept. 20 shooting at the synagogue, which police have described as a thwarted mass killing. The shooter, identified as 29-year-old Sean Ward, was a former Canadian Armed Forces soldier who was released in 2022. Police stated Ward had multiple firearms, ammunition, and gasoline, with the apparent motive to carry out an extended attack when he opened fire on an officer stationed outside the building. Another officer arrived and joined the exchange of gunfire. No one inside the synagogue was harmed, but the officer outside sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was expected to undergo surgeries. Ward died in hospital the following day from injuries sustained during the shootout. ## Disagreement on flyer distribution details Norman Weddum stated that he woke up Thursday morning to find the flyers had been distributed overnight to the synagogue and throughout the city's east end. He also said that the number of flyers distributed and posted suggested it could not have been done by one person. Loonie Politics reported that the flyers were distributed in the city's east end according to police. ## What the coverage left out No right-rated outlet ran this story. The digests from The Toronto Star, NiagaraFallsReview.ca, and WellandTribune.ca did not include Norman Weddum's statement that the number of flyers distributed and posted suggested it could not have been done by one person. ## Who covered it Shares of the 17 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 65% (11) - Centre: 29% (5) - Right: 6% (1) 1 of 18 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-02T19:00:22.176Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-02T21:00:17.282Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports led on the distribution of antisemitic flyers to the Belleville synagogue and surrounding areas. These reports included details about the flyers blaming Jewish people and the context of the recent shooting at the synagogue. They noted that police are investigating the incident. The reports mentioned that the shooter, Sean Ward, was a former Canadian Armed Forces soldier released in 2022. The full reports from Global News and The Toronto Star provided statements from Norman Weddum, president of the synagogue, describing the flyers as 'disturbing' and noting the scale of distribution. They also detailed the Sept. 20 shooting, including the actions of Const. Jeff Smith and the shooter's death, and mentioned the shooter's military background. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports focused on the distribution of antisemitic flyers to the Belleville synagogue and surrounding neighbourhoods, highlighting the incident as 'disturbing'. They stated that police are aware of the flyers and are actively investigating. The reports mentioned the context of the Sept. 20 shooting at the synagogue, described as a thwarted mass killing, and identified the shooter as Sean Ward, a former Canadian Armed Forces soldier released in 2022. The full reports from City News and Barrie 360 included statements from Norman Weddum, president of the synagogue, about finding the flyers and his reaction. They also provided details of the shooting incident and the shooter's background. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 6 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 11 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Global News](https://globalnews.ca/news/12085774/belleville-synagogue-faces-antisemitism) — ‘Disturbing’: Belleville, Ont., synagogue receives antisemitic flyers after shooting - [Barrie 360](https://barrie360.com/antisemitic-flyers-belleville-synagogue-shooting) — Antisemitic Flyers Distributed at Belleville Synagogue After Shooting - [CP24](https://cp24.com/news/2026/10/02/disturbing-belleville-ont-synagogue-receives-antisemitic-flyers-after-shooting) — 'Disturbing': Belleville, Ont., synagogue receives antisemitic flyers after shooting - [City News](https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/10/02/disturbing-belleville-synagogue-receives-antisemitic-flyers-after-shooting) — 'Disturbing': Belleville synagogue receives antisemitic flyers after shooting - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/ontario/disturbing-belleville-ont-synagogue-receives-antisemitic-flyers-after-shooting/article_17a370f6-bade-5d5e-bf68-da9646efdf8b.html) — ‘Disturbing’: Belleville, Ont., synagogue receives antisemitic flyers after shooting - [NiagaraFallsReview.ca](https://niagarafallsreview.ca/news/ontario/disturbing-belleville-ont-synagogue-receives-antisemitic-flyers-after-shooting/article_3d89a559-08fc-5b76-a1d4-c35b0fb21dea.html) — ‘Disturbing’: Belleville, Ont., synagogue receives antisemitic flyers after shooting - [WellandTribune.ca](https://wellandtribune.ca/news/ontario/disturbing-belleville-ont-synagogue-receives-antisemitic-flyers-after-shooting/article_430fd937-e60a-5cb7-ba2d-8079aa1e9888.html) — ‘Disturbing’: Belleville, Ont., synagogue receives antisemitic flyers after shooting - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/2026/10/02/disturbing-belleville-ont-synagogue-receives-antisemitic-flyers-after-shooting) — 'Disturbing': Belleville, Ont., synagogue receives antisemitic flyers after shooting - [SooToday.com](https://sootoday.com/ontario-news/disturbing-belleville-ont-synagogue-receives-antisemitic-flyers-after-shooting-12850704) — 'Disturbing': Belleville, Ont., synagogue receives antisemitic flyers after shooting - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/ontario-news/disturbing-belleville-ont-synagogue-receives-antisemitic-flyers-after-shooting-12850704) — 'Disturbing': Belleville, Ont., synagogue receives antisemitic flyers after shooting - [Elora Fergus Today](https://elorafergustoday.com/ontario-news/disturbing-belleville-ont-synagogue-receives-antisemitic-flyers-after-shooting-12850704) — 'Disturbing': Belleville, Ont., synagogue receives antisemitic flyers after shooting - [Sudbury](https://sudbury.com/ontario-news/disturbing-belleville-ont-synagogue-receives-antisemitic-flyers-after-shooting-12850704) — 'Disturbing': Belleville, Ont., synagogue receives antisemitic flyers after shooting - [Bay Today](https://baytoday.ca/ontario-news/disturbing-belleville-ont-synagogue-receives-antisemitic-flyers-after-shooting-12850704) — 'Disturbing': Belleville, Ont., synagogue receives antisemitic flyers after shooting - [Timmins Today](https://timminstoday.com/ontario-news/disturbing-belleville-ont-synagogue-receives-antisemitic-flyers-after-shooting-12850704) — 'Disturbing': Belleville, Ont., synagogue receives antisemitic flyers after shooting - [Loonie Politics](https://looniepolitics.com/disgusting-antisemitic-flyers-distributed-in-belleville-weeks-after-synagogue-shooting) — ‘Disgusting’ antisemitic flyers distributed in Belleville weeks after synagogue shooting - [The Epoch Times](https://theepochtimes.com/world/belleville-police-investigate-anti-semitic-flyers-less-than-2-weeks-after-synagogue-shooting-6097755) — Belleville Police Investigate Anti-Semitic Flyers Less Than 2 Weeks After Synagogue Shooting - [CTV News](https://ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/police-investigating-antisemitic-flyers-distributed-in-belleville-ont) — Police investigating antisemitic flyers distributed in Belleville, Ont. - [CBC News](https://cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/belleville-police-antisemitic-flyers-9.7365611) — Belleville police investigating antisemitic flyers less than 2 weeks after synagogue attack ## Questions **What happened at the Belleville synagogue?** Antisemitic flyers blaming Jewish people were distributed to the Sons of Jacob synagogue and surrounding neighbourhoods. This occurred after a shooting incident at the synagogue on September 20, which police described as a thwarted mass killing. **Who was the shooter at the synagogue?** The shooter was identified as Sean Ward, a 29-year-old former Canadian Armed Forces soldier who was released in 2022. He died in hospital after a shootout with police outside the synagogue. **Are the police investigating the flyers?** Yes, police are aware of the antisemitic flyers that were distributed and are actively investigating the incident. They have confirmed their awareness and ongoing investigation into the matter. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/antisemitic-flyers-distributed-at-belleville-synagogue-after-shooting. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Antisemitic flyers distributed at Belleville synagogue after shooting", https://mediabias.news/politics/antisemitic-flyers-distributed-at-belleville-synagogue-after-shooting