Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and other politicians have condemned antisemitic violence after a shooting near a Jewish synagogue left a police officer critically injured.

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

Police have not provided a motive or said whether the synagogue was targeted, but said a suspect armed with a shotgun opened fire on a police officer stationed outside.

“Jewish people must be able to worship safely,” Carney wrote on X. “To live free, open, proud Jewish lives.”

The shooting occurred around 19:00 local time on Sunday night, Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) spokesperson Kristy Denette said on Monday. The officer returned fire and another officer discharged their firearm as well, Denette said.

Around 20 to 30 shots were fired, leaving the suspect in life-threatening condition and one officer in critical but stable condition, Denette said.

“It would have been quite, quite the scene indeed,” she added.

Asked whether the incident was being considered a terrorist attack, Denette said that “common sense would say that probably was the case”.

Echoing Carney’s condemnation, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he is “disgusted” by the shooting and that members of the Jewish community “have every right to gather and worship safely and without fear”.

Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre wrote on social media that “this vile antisemitic violence in Canada must end” while urging Carney’s government to “act now to protect our people”.

Deputy Chief Sheri Meeks said the Belleville Police Service has increased patrols and will maintain a heightened presence around the city, including near places of worship.

The police service is still investigating the incident, as is the SIU, a watchdog that investigates officer-involved shootings.

Police in Toronto, which is about 116 miles (187km) away from Belleville, also said they were increasing patrols outside synagogues and places of worship out of an abundance of caution.