An Ottawa youth has been apprehended and is facing charges related to terrorism offenses, specifically directed at Jewish individuals, according to the RCMP. The charges include facilitating terrorist activities by communicating instructional material related to explosives and knowingly instructing someone to carry out terrorism against Jewish persons. Due to the suspect’s age, further details cannot be disclosed.
Since June 2023, the RCMP has arrested five young individuals on terrorism-related charges. The national police force expresses concern about a rising trend of violent extremism and terrorist use of the internet, particularly among young people. Authorities are calling on adults in positions of influence to be vigilant for early signs of radicalization, such as dehumanization of others, extreme anti-government attitudes, and explicit statements of intent to commit violent acts.
The news release also notes a reported surge in hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim communities following an attack by Hamas on October 7 in Israel, which prompted a military offensive in Gaza. Policymakers, law enforcement, and advocacy groups have raised alarms about this increase in hate crimes.
I was shocked to learn the details of a planned attack against Ottawa’s Jewish community. J’ai été choqué d’apprendre les détails d’une attaque planifiée contre la communauté juive d’Ottawa. There has been a rise in anti-semitism in Ottawa in recent weeks. I’m grateful and…
— Mark Sutcliffe (@_MarkSutcliffe) December 16, 2023