A man has been charged following the stabbing of a woman in her 70s at a kosher grocery store in Ottawa on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m. when the woman entered the store with a friend. According to police, she was approached by a man who stabbed her, resulting in serious injuries.

Ottawa police responded to the scene and arrested the suspect, a 71-year-old man. Store staff provided assistance to the victim until paramedics arrived. She was subsequently treated at a hospital and later released. Authorities confirmed that the suspect and the victim did not know each other prior to the incident.

The investigation is being led by one of the police's criminal investigation units, with support from the Hate and Bias Crime Unit. Police stated, "Detectives continue to investigate the matter to ensure all aspects of the case are understood and charges are expected."

In a Facebook post on Thursday, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa (JFO) expressed concern over the incident, noting that the woman is a "cherished" member of the community and is recovering. The JFO has chosen not to disclose further details about her condition to respect her privacy. The stabbing took place at a kosher Loblaws grocery store.

The JFO has been in contact with police and relevant authorities, including hate crimes investigators and the Chief of Police. They have also reached out to Loblaws to discuss measures to enhance safety for Jewish community members while shopping. The JFO indicated that there is "no indication of increased risk to Jewish facilities or institutions."

The suspect appeared in court on Thursday, where he was formally charged with aggravated assault and possession of a dangerous weapon.