Jewish Woman Stabbed in Ottawa Grocery: Horrific Hate Crime Revealed
An elderly Jewish woman was stabbed in an Ottawa Loblaws supermarket, a suspected hate crime linked to the suspect’s antisemitic social media history.
A 71-year-old Jewish woman was seriously injured in an unprovoked stabbing at a Loblaws supermarket in Ottawa’s College Square on August 27, 2025. The attack, which occurred at around 1:35 p.m., took place at a store known for its extensive kosher food section, a location previously targeted by anti-Israel protests since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. The suspect, identified as 71-year-old Joseph Rooke from Cornwall, Ontario, was arrested at the scene after surrendering to police. He faces charges of aggravated assault and possession of a dangerous weapon, with authorities indicating that additional charges may be filed as the investigation progresses.
The victim, who was shopping with a friend, was stabbed in the torso and rushed to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. She has since been released and is recovering at home. The Ottawa Police Service’s Hate and Bias Crime Unit is investigating the incident as a hate-motivated crime, citing Rooke’s history of anti-Semitic social media posts. In a July 1, 2025, post, Rooke wrote, “Yes I am anti-Semitic and atheist,” describing Judaism as “the world’s oldest cult” and accusing Jews of being “insidious in governments, businesses, media conglomerates, and educational institutions” and “masters of propaganda, gaslighting, demonization, demagoguery, and outright lying.” Another post stated, “I am under no obligation whatsoever, legal, moral, or otherwise, to like Jews and I do not. If that means I meet the Jewish definition of an anti-Semite, so be it.”
Court records reveal Rooke’s history of pursuing legal challenges against religious references in government, including a dismissed case demanding Supreme Court justices resign over oaths invoking God. “If the nine justices of the Supreme Court are unwilling or unable to defend their religious beliefs by forwarding credible and provable facts, then they should do the honourable thing and resign,” he wrote in a filing. Rooke, who quit his job in 2019 to focus on these cases, appeared in court on August 28 and is scheduled to return on September 2, remaining in custody.
Canadian leaders condemned the attack. Prime Minister Mark Carney called it “deeply disturbing,” stating, “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.” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre expressed outrage, saying, “I am outraged by yet another vile anti-Semitic attack,” and urged Carney to implement “serious consequences for those who commit or incite anti-Semitic crimes, including stronger hate-crime laws, and the deportation of non-Canadians who come here to spread hatred.” Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Jewish Federation of Ottawa CEO Adam Silver visited the store’s kosher section on August 29 to address community concerns. “I feel upset because this isn’t Ottawa,” Silver said. “People should be able to go to the grocery store without experiencing the risk of violence.”
The Jewish Federation of Ottawa noted the community is “deeply shaken” but relieved the victim is recovering. They are collaborating with police and Loblaws to enhance security measures. The incident follows a reported near-doubling of anti-Semitic incidents in Canada since October 2023, prompting heightened police presence in Jewish community areas.