Ottawa police are investigating a stabbing at a grocery store on Baseline Road that left a Jewish woman in her 70s seriously injured. Authorities have classified the incident as a “hate-motivated” crime, the local police said on Friday.
Update: Baseline Rd. stabbing considered a Hate-Motivated Crime
The OPS continues its investigation into the stabbing that occurred on August 27 at a grocery store in the 1900 block of Baseline Road.
After a thorough investigation, this incident is considered a hate-motivated… pic.twitter.com/DY1f7pr0vF
— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) August 29, 2025
Details of the Attack
The attack occurred around 1:35 pm on August 28 (local time) when the victim entered the store with a friend.
“She was approached by a man who stabbed her, leaving her with serious injuries,” said the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) in a statement.
Store staff assisted the victim until paramedics arrived. She was transported to a hospital, treated, and later released. The suspect was arrested on the scene without incident.
Suspect Charged
The 71-year-old suspect appeared in court the day after the attack and has been charged with aggravated assault and possession of a dangerous weapon. Investigators confirmed that the suspect and victim had no prior connection.
The West Criminal Investigations Unit is managing the case with support from the Hate and Bias Crime Unit.
“Detectives continue to investigate the matter to ensure all aspects of the case are understood and charges are expected,” OPS said.
PM and Mayor Condemn the Attack
The senseless attack on a Jewish woman in an Ottawa grocery store this week is deeply disturbing. My thoughts are with her, her family, and Ottawa’s Jewish community, and my support is with law enforcement as they work to swiftly bring the perpetrator to justice.
To Canada’s…
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) August 29, 2025
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the attack in a social media post:
“The senseless attack on a Jewish woman in an Ottawa grocery store this week is deeply disturbing. My thoughts are with her, her family, and Ottawa’s Jewish community, and my support is with law enforcement as they work to swiftly bring the perpetrator to justice. To Canada’s Jewish community: you are not alone. We stand with you against hate and threats to your safety, and we will act to confront antisemitism wherever it appears.”
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe also denounced the violence:
“This reprehensible violence has understandably caused significant distress within Ottawa’s Jewish community. We must stand together against violence and hatred in all its forms and continue working together to ensure Ottawa remains a safe and inclusive city for everyone.”
