Man, 19, arrested in Ontario after threats to shoot up synagogue: police

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A 19-year-old man in Durham Region was arrested for threatening to shoot a synagogue. He was charged just a day before a gunman opened fire outside Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ont., injuring Const. Jeff Smith stationed outside.

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Alexander Parfitt, a resident of Whitby, is accused of posting about carrying out a shooting on an online message board, according to Durham Regional Police. Officers received information about the threats from a law enforcement partner.

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Police were able to identify the user and executed a search warrant at the mans Whitby home on Sept. 19.

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He was charged with threats motivated by hate.

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The shooting in Belleville, roughly 140 kilometres west of Whitby, took place around 7 p.m. on Sunday evening, when a 29-year-old suspect Sean Ward fired shots at thesynagogue.

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At the time, there were roughly 25 congregants inside the building for evening prayers on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for the Jewish community. None of the congregants were injured. Smith was rushed to Kingston General Hospital where he remains in critical but stable condition.

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Meanwhile, the suspect is in life-threatening condition.

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Durham police said it had increased patrol during the Jewish high holidays at community centres and places of worship.

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Synagogues across Canada have become the target of antisemitic attacks.

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In January, a synagogue in Winnipeg was graffitied with swastikas. In March, three synagogues in the Greater Toronto Area were hit with bullets. In June, a suspect was arrested after an attempted arson at a synagogue in Montreal.

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