OTTAWA — A Jewish woman in her 70s was stabbed Wednesday afternoon inside a Loblaws grocery store on Baseline Road in Ottawa, a location known for its prominent kosher section and a history of anti-Israel protests.
The Ottawa Police Service confirmed that the suspect, a 71-year-old man, was arrested on the scene and appeared in court Thursday morning. He has been charged with Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Dangerous Weapon. Investigators said the victim and the suspect had no prior connection and described the attack as “unprovoked.”
OPS added that its Hate and Bias Crime Unit is involved in the investigation and that all potential motives are being considered.
The stabbing occurred just one day after Mohamad Fakih, CEO of Paramount Foods, posted a message online declaring that Canadians who support Israel “do not have basic human values.”
Fakih wrote:
“On behalf of literally every Canadian of conscience: if you are a Canadian and a supporter of Israel, you do not have basic human values, let alone Canadian values. Your tweets and messages are saved and known to all of us… Your lack of Canadian and human values will never be forgotten.”
Jewish organizations have warned that such public statements contribute to an increasingly dangerous environment for Canadian Jews. While there is no official confirmation linking Fakih’s remarks to the attack, the timing underscores growing concerns about the impact of inflammatory rhetoric on public safety.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) strongly condemned the stabbing, stating:
“The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs is deeply troubled by the violent, unprovoked stabbing inside an Ottawa grocery store that houses the city’s most well-known kosher food section and has been the repeated target of anti-Israel protests. The victim, a valued member of the Ottawa Jewish community, should have been safe to go about their day.”
“While the motivation behind this unprovoked assault has not yet been determined, we cannot ignore the broader context in Ottawa. Anti-Jewish hate, antisemitism, and violence have been normalized since the abhorrent attack on October 7. Jewish institutions, businesses, and community members have been increasingly singled out by extremists.”
The Jewish Federation of Ottawa said it is in constant contact with law enforcement and security agencies:
The Federation said it is strengthening security infrastructure across Jewish institutions and emphasized that the incident reflects a wider climate of hostility toward Jews in Canada.
“We have all been deeply shaken by the stabbing incident that took place yesterday afternoon at the Baseline Kosher Loblaws… The victim, a cherished member of our community, is recovering.”
Police have confirmed they are considering the possibility that this was a hate-motivated crime, though no final determination has been made.
The Ottawa Police Service urged anyone with relevant information to contact investigators. “We understand and appreciate the community concern related to this investigation and will continue to provide updates as they are available,” the OPS said.
More updates to follow
One Response
Hate is the motivation and a weak vacillating government is the reason. Our government has not stood up for the Jewish or Christian population in Canada at all. Our synagogues and churches are attacked while uncontrolled mass immigration, food insecurity and housing shortages destroy our lives. We are nothing but Tax donkeys to pay the freight for bad decisions! Canada is not safe for Canadians and definitely not the Jewish people!