Police step up patrols at Ottawa synagogues, mosques after attack on Israel

Published Oct 07, 2023 • Last updated 4 hours ago • 2 minute read

Ottawa Police Services HQ. File photo. Photo by Tony Caldwell /POSTMEDIA

Ottawa police say they’ve stepped up patrols around synagogues and mosques in the city after Saturday’s rocket attack and invasion of Israel by Hamas that left hundreds dead.

“Today’s attack on Israel has an impact on our own community in Ottawa,” police said in statement on the social-media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “We have increased police presence in areas of religious significance including synagogues and mosques. We are also reaching out to community partners to ensure they know we are here to support them. Hate crimes will not be tolerated and will be fully investigated.”

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The surprise attack began early Saturday with a barrage of rockets into southern Israel, followed by an invasion of Hamas fighters from the Gaza Strip. They reportedly roamed through Israeli towns shooting civilians and soldiers alike, taking many of them hostage.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his country was “at war” and launched airstrikes into Palestinian territory.

The attack was the largest on Israel in decades.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also condemned the Hamas actions. In a social- message, Trudeau said: “Canada strongly condemns the current terrorist attacks against Israel. These acts of violence are completely unacceptable. We stand with Israel and fully support its right to defend itself. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this. Civilian life must be protected.”

Conservative leader and Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre condemned the invasion by “Hamas terrorists and the sadistic violence they have subsequently carried out against innocent civilians.”

Ottawa South Liberal MPP John Fraser used X to call the attacks on Israeli citizens “abhorrent” and expressed sympathy for those affected “by this heinous act, both in Israel and here at home.”

Nepean Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod reposted images on X from Israeli Defence Forces, while Ottawa Centre NDP MPP Joel Harden posted that he was saddened to see “horrifying images of war in the Holy Land today, in Israel and Palestine” and would work to “solve problems with words, not bombs.”