Ottawa police increase presence around synagogues, mosques after Hamas attack in Israel
Ottawa police say there will be more patrols around synagogues and mosques this weekend after Hamas militants attacked Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip Saturday.
Israel's national rescue service said at least 200 people were killed and hundreds more were wounded in the surprise attack, which drew condemnation from around the world, including in Ottawa.
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
- Sign up now for our nightly CTV News Ottawa newsletter
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre both condemned Hamas as terrorists. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said "terrorism and violence solve nothing," and called for all hostages to be released.
The attack came during the Jewish holiday Simchat Torah.
"We are witnessing one of the most horrendous, murderous terrorist attacks," said Israeli ambassador-designate to Canada, Iddo Moed. "Some of those shot were on their way to synagogue with their families."
In a post on social media, Ottawa police said the attack in Israel has an impact on the community here in Canada's capital.
"We have increased police presence in areas of religious significance including synagogues and mosques," police said. "We are also reaching out to community partners to ensure they know we are here to support them."
Police also vowed that hate crimes would not be tolerated and would be fully investigated. According to OPS data, there were 221 reported hate-motivated incidents in the city in the first half of 2023, with Jewish residents being the most commonly targeted.
The RCMP said it is not aware of any specific threats toward Jewish Canadians, but it is working with policing partners in Canada and abroad to keep citizens safe.
Outside the Soloway Jewish Community Centre, local resident Jessica Cohn said her husband's family lives in Israel.
"We just feel sick to our stomachs. This is a different war," she said. "We're sad. My husband is at home and he can't go about our day-to-day. You just feel this emptiness and you want to help, but we're far away."
Cohn said her in-laws are are sheltering, but some family members are being recruited into military service.
"His cousins have been called up to go and serve," she said. "That's the reality of living there; things change in a second."
Richard Marceau, with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, says he is keeping a close eye on developments.
"One of my sons lives in Israel now," he said. "I tried every means to reach him. Thank God he is safe."
Local politicians in Ottawa have joined in to condemn the attack. Ottawa Centre Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi, Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Sean Devine, and Ottawa South Liberal MPP John Fraser are among those who posted condemnations to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Several provincial politicians, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, also condemned the attacks.
--With files from The Associated Press and CTV News Ottawa's Jackie Perez.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING 120 active fires burning across Canada, 30 are 'out of control'
The 2024 wildfire season has begun, and it's shaping up to follow last year's unprecedented destruction in kind, with thousands of square kilometres already consumed.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
BREAKING B.C. parents sentenced to 15 years for death of 6-year-old boy
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.
Legislative speaker cuts ties with Sask. Party, alleges he faced threats, harassment from gov't MLAs
The Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature Randy Weekes has severed ties with the Sask. Party after accusing some members of harassment and intimidation tactics, including a situation he claimed saw the Government House Leader bring a hunting rifle to the legislative building.
Kevin Spacey receives star support as he fights to get his career back
Kevin Spacey is pushing back on the 'rush to judgment' against him and is being backed by some big names as he seeks to reclaim his acting career.
A Toronto man killed his mother and decapitated her. His lawyers argue it wasn't murder
A ‘lifetime of abuse’ led Dallas Ly to snap and repeatedly stab his mother inside their Leslieville apartment in 2022 but he never intended to kill her, his defence lawyers argued during his murder trial in Toronto on Thursday.
Father charged with second-degree murder in daughter's stabbing death southwest of Montreal
A father has been charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his 34-year-old daughter in southern Quebec.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
The latest advice for expecting parents? Sign up for childcare as soon as you're pregnant
Canada's new $10-a-day child care program is expanding, but there's growing evidence that demand for the program is rising even faster, leaving many parents on the outside looking in.