Alek Minassian, the 25-year-old accused of killing 10 and wounding 13 after driving a van into a crowd in Toronto, Canada, has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder.
Shortly after the attack, which occurred Monday lunchtime Canadian time in the North York area of Toronto, Minassian was apprehended a few blocks away after abandoning the rental van and fleeing the scene.
He appeared in court Tuesday Canadian time to hear the 10 first-degree murder charges and an additional 13 charges of attempted murder. He will return to court on May 10.
A man believed to be Minassian’s father was filmed leaving court.
This man was seated weeping in the front row as Alek Minassian learned of charges following truck attack on Yonge. I asked “have you spoken to your son” he looked at me and shook his head and said no. At one point he said “sorry” under his breath. pic.twitter.com/i3DbfkcDWo
— Chris Glover (@chrisgloverCBC) April 24, 2018
Police are still investigating the motivation behind the murders, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau telling reporters yesterday: “we have no reason to suspect that there is any national security element to this attack”.
Just before his deadly rampage, Minassian took to Facebook to post a status that read: “The Incel Rebellion has already begun! We will overthrow all the Chads and Stacys! All hail the Supreme Gentleman Elliot Rodger!”
“Incel”, a shortened version of “involuntary celibate”, was the name of a now-banned Reddit group where men aired their grievances about not being sexually active, often blaming women. “Chads and Stacys” refer to attractive men and women seen as unattainable to members of the group.
The post also name-checked Elliot Rodger, a 22-year-old man who in 2014 shot and killed six people in Isla Vista, California, before taking his own life.
Minassian was not known to police prior to the attack, and Canadian government officials have been quoted as saying he has no ties to any known terrorist organisations.
We’ll continue to update you as this case develops.
