Brief
B'nai Brith Canada urges probe after neo‑Nazi flyers distributed in Belleville
The Jewish advocacy group says the flyers contain antisemitic slogans and calls for a police investigation.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Ontario‑based B'nai Brith Canada said on Oct. 2 that it is requesting a police probe after neo‑Nazi flyers were posted in Belleville, Ontario. The flyers, which the group described as "explicitly antisemitic," appeared less than two weeks after a shooting at the Sons of Jacob synagogue in the same town during Yom Kippur.
According to the Toronto Sun, the flyers were discovered on a community bulletin board near the synagogue on Oct. 1. The pamphlets reportedly feature swastikas, the phrase "Jewish vermin must die," and a call to "defend the white race." B'nai Brith said the material was intended to intimidate the local Jewish community and warned that it could incite further violence.
The organization urged the Ontario Provincial Police to treat the incident as a hate crime and to identify the individuals responsible. B'nai Brith also called on the federal government to strengthen monitoring of extremist groups, citing a rise in far‑right activity across Canada.
Police have not yet confirmed whether they have opened a formal investigation, but a spokesperson for the OPP told the Toronto Sun that the matter is being "taken seriously" and that officers are reviewing surveillance footage from the area.
Community leaders expressed concern over the timing of the flyers. The mayor of Belleville, who was not named in the article, said the town remains "vigilant" and will cooperate fully with any investigation. Local Jewish groups have organized a candle‑light vigil for the victims of the synagogue shooting and are urging residents to reject hate.
B'nai Brith referenced its earlier coverage of the synagogue attack, linking to its own report on the armed officer who stopped the gunman (Armed officer averts massacre at Ontario synagogue, gunman killed). The group warned that the flyers could be part of a broader campaign by extremist networks that have been active online and in other Canadian provinces.
Key facts
- B'nai Brith Canada called for a police probe after neo‑Nazi flyers were posted in Belleville. (torontosun.com)
- The flyers featured swastikas and antisemitic slogans such as "Jewish vermin must die." (torontosun.com)
- The incident occurred less than two weeks after a shooting at the Sons of Jacob synagogue during Yom Kippur. (torontosun.com)
- Ontario Provincial Police said the matter is being taken seriously and are reviewing surveillance footage. (torontosun.com)
- B'nai Brith urged the federal government to improve monitoring of extremist groups. (torontosun.com)
Sources
- [1] torontosun.com — originally reported as “B'nai Brith Canada calls for probe of neo-Nazi group after antisemitic flyers distributed in Belleville”
