RCMP Arrest Youth for Alleged Terrorist Plot Targeting Jewish Community

The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police "E" Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

RCMP has arrested an Ottawa youth for allegedly planning a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community.

The suspect was arrested on Dec. 15, and charged with facilitating terrorist activity by communicating instructional material related to an explosive substance. As well, the youth is charged with knowingly instructing a person to carry out terrorist activity against “Jewish persons.”

Police said no further information could be released due to the suspect’s age.

Reacting to the news, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he was “shocked” to learn of the alleged planned terrorist attack.

“There has been a rise in anti-semitism in Ottawa in recent weeks,” Mr. Sutcliffe said on social media on Dec. 16.

“There is no place for any hatred, racism, or violence in our community. We must continue to work together and do everything possible to ensure our city is safe for everyone.”

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The incident is the latest in a number of attacks targeting the Jewish community since the start of the Israel-Hamas war following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel.

In November, two Jewish schools in Montreal were hit by gunshots overnight, while a synagogue and a Jewish community centre were firebombed in the city in the same month. As well, a number of Jewish-owned businesses have been targets of vandalism or on-site protests, and there’s been a rise in the number of reported antisemitic attacks on university campuses.

“Since October 7, the Jewish community has been raising our extreme concerns about the frightening rise in antisemitic incitement and hatred in Canada,” the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said in a social media post on Dec. 16

“We are thankful that law enforcement was able to foil the threat & that no one was hurt. However, the ongoing threat to our community remains very real.”

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc thanked the RCMP and CSIS for the arrest.

“Hate has no place in Canada,” Mr. LeBlanc said on X on Dec. 16. “This is yet another example of the extraordinary work RCMP officers and CSIS staff do everyday to keep Canadians safe.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had not publicly commented on the issue as of the evening of Dec. 16.

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre said the alleged planned attack shows that antisemitism is on the rise.

“The alleged terror plot targeting Jews in Ottawa should awaken us to the horrifying rise of anti-semitism since Hamas’ genocidal Oct. 7 attack on Israel,” Mr. Poilievre said on X on Dec. 16.

“We must redouble our efforts to protect our people and defeat anti-Jewish hatred.”

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, who himself is Jewish and has been outspoken about the attacks on the community, thanked public safety agencies for the arrest of the suspect.

“To those laughing off the very real fears of Jewish Canadians I hope you now have second thoughts,” he said on social media on Dec. 16.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.