Who, Us? We're Victims Too!

"Since June 2023, the RCMP has arrested five  young persons on terrorism-related offences -- either terrorism related charges or laying of information for a Terrorism Offence Peace Bond."

"Adults in positions of authority [including parents, guardians, teachers and coaches are asked] to be alert for behaviours of concern which may be linked to violent extremism."

"The RCMP is seeing a concerning trend of violent extremism and terrorist use of the internet, including amongst young persons."

RCMP announcement 

"[The first charge was facilitating a terrorist activity by communicating instructional material related to an explosive substance."

"[The second was for indirectly or directly and knowingly instructing a person] to carry out a terrorist activity against Jewish persons."

Ottawa Police Service

"I was shocked to learn the details."

"I'm grateful and relieved that in this case, through strong investigative work, the RCMP and Ottawa Police were able to avert this planned event before it happened."

"One thing I think that all Canadians can agree upon is that we deeply enjoy the safety and security in this country that this country has to offer. And when that safety and security is threatened, regardless of who it's by or who it's against, that is of concern to all Canadians, including members of our community."

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe discusses recent charges laid against an Ottawa youth and the alleged connection to possible terrorist activity against Jewish people. CBCNews

 

On the past weekend police arrested an Ottawa youth on two terrorism-related charges targeting the Jewish community in the city. Three additional charges have now been laid in addition to the original two. Because the suspected terrorist is not of age, his identification has been withheld, as a minor. His first courthouse appearance was virtually attended four days later. 

From the original two charges, he now faces a total of five charges, inclusive of a second charge linked to facilitating a terrorist activity and two new charges relating to explosives. The first, relates to possession of explosives, the second is for possessing them with intent to either "endanger life or to cause serious damage to property" or to enable another person do so so. Whether anyone else is being investigated in the case has not yet been revealed.

Patrols of Jewish institutions, including synagogues, community centres and schools have been increased by the Ottawa Police Service, even while the Jewish Federation of Ottawa divulged that police continue to encourage the community to be vigilant. To that end, the Federation reported in a message to community members that police confirmed there to be no risk to the community now since the teen remains in custody.

"We ask that everyone exercise heightened awareness and [be] diligent in following security protocols", urged the Federation's communication. When the RCMP Saturday announced the arrest for terrorism-related offences, it also gave warning of a "concerning trend" of online violent extremism and terrorism in Canada. 

The youth's father spoke to Global News explaining that he had warned his son to avoid extremists. As a precautionary measure he had sent his son for a consultation with an imam. Since some area imams are well known to themselves be vectors of extremism, and the father has a Facebook page where he posts derogatory posts about Jews and Zionists in Arabic, one that called to dispose of all Israelis, one might conjecture that the apple didn't fall far from the tree that bore it.

The RCMP gave credit to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre, as well as provincial and municipal police, all having provided "indispensable collaboration" in the case. Across Canada both Jewish and Muslim leaders report an increase in attacks motivated by hate since the Hamas atrocities on October 7 in Israel, followed by Israel's military response in Gaza.

However, while the Muslim community cries "Islamophobia" and speaks of hate crimes against its community, it is the Jewish community against which the vast bulk of the crimes are committed. And by and large, it is from within the ranks of the Muslim community that harassment, threats and violence emanates against the Jewish community.