A 70-year-old Jewish woman was stabbed inside an Ottawa Loblaws store known for its kosher food section, fueling fears in a community already alarmed by record levels of antisemitic hate crimes.
The Jewish community of Ottawa is reeling after a shocking stabbing attack inside a Loblaws grocery store famous for its kosher food section, leaving a woman in her 70s hospitalized.
The assault occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Baseline Road and Woodroffe Avenue branch, when the victim, who had entered the store with a friend, was suddenly stabbed by a man. Quick-thinking staff rushed to provide aid until emergency responders arrived. The victim was taken to hospital and later released the same day.
Ottawa Police arrested a 71-year-old suspect at the scene and charged him with aggravated assault and possession of a dangerous weapon. Authorities said there was no prior connection between the suspect and victim, describing the incident as an “unprovoked attack.” The force’s hate and bias crime unit has joined the investigation.
OPS Deputy Chief Trish Ferguson sought to reassure residents: “I can certainly appreciate that the members of the community are assuming the worst. As soon as we have information that can be shared [as to whether] this is a targeted attack, we will do so.”
The Jewish Federation of Ottawa called the victim a “cherished member of the community” and expressed relief at her recovery, while urging stronger measures to ensure Jewish shoppers feel safe. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) described the incident as “deeply troubling,” noting that the same Loblaws has been repeatedly targeted by anti-Israel protests.
CIJA’s Ontario affairs director, Josh Landau, linked the attack to a worsening climate: “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.”
The stabbing comes amid a disturbing spike in antisemitic incidents across Canada. Statistics Canada reported that Jews were 25 times more likely to be the victims of hate crimes than other Canadians in 2024, with 920 police-reported antisemitic incidents—making them the most targeted religious group in the country.
Though slightly lower than 2023’s record 959 cases, the figures remain well above pre-October 7 levels. In Ottawa, the National Holocaust Monument was vandalized in June, and a city lawyer was later dismissed after being charged in the case.
For many, the Loblaws stabbing is the latest reminder that Jewish life in Canada is under growing threat, even in everyday spaces once thought safe.The Jewish community of Ottawa is reeling after a shocking stabbing attack inside a Loblaws grocery store famous for its kosher food section, leaving a woman in her 70s hospitalized.
The assault occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Baseline Road and Woodroffe Avenue branch, when the victim, who had entered the store with a friend, was suddenly stabbed by a man. Quick-thinking staff rushed to provide aid until emergency responders arrived. The victim was taken to hospital and later released the same day.
Ottawa Police arrested a 71-year-old suspect at the scene and charged him with aggravated assault and possession of a dangerous weapon. Authorities said there was no prior connection between the suspect and victim, describing the incident as an “unprovoked attack.” The force’s hate and bias crime unit has joined the investigation.
OPS Deputy Chief Trish Ferguson sought to reassure residents: “I can certainly appreciate that the members of the community are assuming the worst. As soon as we have information that can be shared [as to whether] this is a targeted attack, we will do so.”
The Jewish Federation of Ottawa called the victim a “cherished member of the community” and expressed relief at her recovery, while urging stronger measures to ensure Jewish shoppers feel safe. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) described the incident as “deeply troubling,” noting that the same Loblaws has been repeatedly targeted by anti-Israel protests.
CIJA’s Ontario affairs director, Josh Landau, linked the attack to a worsening climate: “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.”
The stabbing comes amid a disturbing spike in antisemitic incidents across Canada. Statistics Canada reported that Jews were 25 times more likely to be the victims of hate crimes than other Canadians in 2024, with 920 police-reported antisemitic incidents—making them the most targeted religious group in the country.
Though slightly lower than 2023’s record 959 cases, the figures remain well above pre-October 7 levels. In Ottawa, the National Holocaust Monument was vandalized in June, and a city lawyer was later dismissed after being charged in the case.
For many, the Loblaws stabbing is the latest reminder that Jewish life in Canada is under growing threat, even in everyday spaces once thought safe.
