Charges laid in local hospital suspicious incident

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, November 15, 2023   4:35 pm

(Ottawa) – The Ottawa Police Service East Criminal Investigations Unit has charged a woman following a suspicious incident last week.

At approximately 11:15 pm on November 9, officers attended a hospital in the 500 block of Smyth Road in relation to a suspicious incident. Gasoline had been poured inside the hospital with messages left nearby. The messages were related to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.

The accused was arrested and early this morning a search warrant was executed on her residence.

A 33-year-old woman of Ottawa has been charged with several offences:

• Attempt to commit arson endanger life
• Attempt to commit arson damage property
• Mischief, Obstruct property
• Mischief, property damage endangering life
• Possess incendiary material for arson
• Disobey lawful order of court
• Breach of probation

The woman is appearing in court this afternoon.

We do not believe that this incident was hate-motivated, however it is related to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.

The Ottawa Police Service is committed to ensuring everyone’s safety.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Ottawa Police East Criminal Investigations Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 3566. 

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.  

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CONTACT:

Media Relations Section

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366