An unimaginable crime occurred in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, as six individuals—a mother and her four children, alongside an acquaintance of the family—fell victim to a heinous knife attack late Wednesday night, shocking a nation where such massacres are uncommon. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau conveyed his deep sense of horror at the event, branding it a ‘terrible tragedy.’ The household’s father, also affected by the attack, is currently hospitalized in a critical condition.
Police apprehended and charged 19-year-old Febrio De-Zoysa, a male student originally from Sri Lanka and a resident in the family’s home, with six counts of first degree murder and one of attempted murder. The slain were identified as a 35-year-old woman, her children of ages seven, four, two, and another who was just two months old, along with a 40-year-old man. Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs expressed dismay at the news conference, detailing that the family, having origins in Sri Lanka, had been cruelly assaulted without motive or prior conflicts with law enforcement.
The city of Ottawa, with a population of a million residents, was left in shock by the brutality of the act. Notably, Ottawa reported only 14 murders in 2023 and 15 the year before, reflecting the rarity of such vicious acts in the community. The incident, which transpired in the southwestern suburb of Barrhaven, was reported to the police just before 11 p.m. The discovery has since stirred the nation, reaffirming the infrequent yet devastating occurrence of mass killings in Canada. Earlier instances in December 2022 and September of the same year in different parts of the country already troubled the public sense of security.
Moving forward, the distressing event has prompted both law enforcement and political figures to publicly address the tragedy. While police investigations continue, communities across Canada, especially the residents of Ottawa, are left to grapple with the aftermath of a night that has forever changed the lives of a family and the fabric of the city. The Prime Minister and Ottawa’s mayor, Mark Sutcliffe, both highlighted the severity of the situation and extended words of shock and sympathy towards the survivors and the affected community of Barrhaven.