Ottawa police arrested a 43-year-old man following what they’re describing as two hate-motivated incidents at a Jewish religious celebration.
According to police, the incidents took place over Tuesday and Wednesday at a place of worship on the 1-100 block of Nadolny Sachs Private.
Police say on Tuesday, a man showed up at the establishment and interfered with religious worship. He was asked to leave and left without incident, police say.
Police say he returned the next day, where he was arrested after an organizer at the religious event flagged down a nearby patrol officer. No one was injured during either instance.
Andrea Freedman, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, said the man showed up at their campus on Nadolny Sachs Private twice over the course of Rosh Hashanah celebrations that took place over the two days.
Both times, he hurled targeted comments at those attending the outdoor events.
Freedman said that the federation is grateful for the support of the Ottawa police officers who were quick to deal with the man.
She said the Jewish community is already on heightened alert during religious holidays, and that this is just one example of a growing number of antisemitic incidents in Ottawa.
Police charged Girmay Mamo Gebremedhin, of Gatineau, Que., with two counts of disturbing persons assembled for worship and two counts of mischief. Police determined the two alleged incidents were motivated by hate.
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