Carjacking suspect sought by Ottawa police

Police are asking the public for help in identifying a suspect allegedly involved in an attempted carjacking incident on March 13 at College Square. (OPS/ handout)

The Ottawa Police Service is asking the public for help in identifying a suspect allegedly involved in an attempted carjacking incident on March 13 at College Square.

Police say the suspect approached a man who was returning to his parked vehicle at the mall in the 1900-block of Baseline Road shortly before 2:30 p.m., demanding his car keys.

When the victim refused to hand his car keys, the suspect struck him “multiple times in the face,” police say.

The suspect then threatened to shoot the victim with a dark-coloured handgun before running away, officers add.

“He was last seen getting into the passenger seat of a black Nissan Rogue with no licence plates,” police said in a news release Wednesday.

The suspect is described as a Middle Eastern man. He was wearing a black balaclava, a black hooded top, and red pants at the time the incident happened.

Anyone with information about this suspect is asked to call police at 613-236-1222, extension 5116, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.