Ottawa minor charged as RCMP allege connection to possible terrorist activity against Jewish people

A youth in Ottawa has been charged with terrorist-related offences that allegedly targeted Jewish people, the RCMP said on Saturday.

The Mounties said in a statement that the suspect was arrested on Friday and that their age prevents any further release of information about the individual.

The RCMP said in the release that the suspect is alleged to have instructed someone, directly or indirectly, to carry out a terrorist activity against “Jewish persons.”

Additionally, they are charged with “facilitation of a terrorist activity by communicating instructional material related to an explosive substance.”

Police across Canada say reports of hate crimes against Jews and Muslims have been rising since Oct. 7 when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel prompting retaliatory military action in Gaza, a Palestinian enclave controlled by the militants.

Toronto police report significant increase in hate crimes

Toronto police say tensions stemming from the war between Israel and Hamas have led to a significant increase in hate crimes compared to 2022. Leaders from Muslim and Jewish communities in the city are concerned about many more incidents that go unreported.

Ottawa’s mayor said he was shocked by the alleged planned attack, adding that “there has been a rise in antisemitism in Ottawa in recent weeks.”

“I’m grateful and relieved that in this case, through strong investigative work, the [RCMP] and the [Ottawa Police Service] were able to avert this planned event before it happened,” Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.

“The Ottawa Police Service will continue to patrol synagogues and other Jewish institutions.”

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, an advocacy group representing Jewish organizations across Canada, said on X that it was grateful no one was hurt, noting that “the ongoing threat to our community remains very real.”

About 1,200 people were killed in the Oct. 7 attack, according to a tally by Israeli officials, while Israel’s subsequent siege of Gaza has killed more than 18,000, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health.

Global Affairs Canada has confirmed that eight Canadians have died in the conflict: Seven in the initial attack, and one in Lebanon where Israel has exchanged fire with Hezbollah, a militant group allied with Hamas.