Tragedy: Mother, Four Children, Family Friend Stabbed In Canada.

By Caroline Ameh

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned the horrific mass killing of a family and their acquaintance in Ottawa, Canada. The victims, including a 35-year-old woman and her four children aged seven, four, two, and two months, along with a 40-year-old family friend, were tragically stabbed to death in the Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven.

The incident, described as a “terrible tragedy” by Trudeau, has shocked the nation, which rarely experiences such acts of violence. Ottawa, with a population of one million, recorded only 14 murders in 2023, emphasizing the rarity of such incidents.

The motive behind the killings remains unclear, but 19-year-old Febrio De-Zoysa, a student from Sri Lanka, has been arrested and charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. De-Zoysa, who had been staying with the family as an acquaintance, had no prior contact with law enforcement.

According to Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs, the family was discovered inside their home after authorities responded to an emergency call late Wednesday night. The husband of the deceased mother survived the attack but sustained injuries and is currently in stable condition in hospital.

Describing the incident as a “senseless act of violence,” Stubbs revealed that an “edged weapon” was used in the killings. The arrest of De-Zoysa occurred at the scene of the crime.

Mass killings are uncommon in Canada, with a population of just over 38 million. However, the country has witnessed notable attacks in the past, including a shooting in Toronto suburb in December 2022 and a stabbing spree in the province of Saskatchewan in September of the same year.

Despite the rarity of such incidents in Canada compared to the United States, where mass killings are more frequent, the tragic event in Ottawa has left the nation mourning and seeking answers to prevent future acts of violence.