Toronto Vehicle Run-Down, April 23, 2018

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Attack: April 23, 2018, Toronto, Ontario Pedestrian Vehicle Run-Down

Location: North of midtown Toronto

Attacker: Alek Minassian, 25

Fatalities: 10 dead, 15 injured

Weapon(s): White Ryder rental van

Type of attacker: Hate/Bias - Mental health issues

 

Description:

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On Sunday, April 22, 2018, 25-yr-old Alek Minassian drove a white Ryder rental van over the curb at the intersection of Yonge street and Finch avenue and drove at high speed (60-70 KPH, or 37-43 MPH0 on the sidewalk and street southbound on Yonge street running over pedestrians one at a time, including bus stops, benches, etc. Minassian eventually exited the van and pointed a black object at the police and asked to be shot. He was apprehended without a shot fired. He had posted an anti-woman Facebook rant prior to the attack. In the post, he saluted Elliot Rodger, the community college student who in 2014 killed six people and wounded 13 in a hybrid shooting and stabbing attack because of women not forming a relationship with him. Like Rodger, Minassian strong hate for women because of his inability to have a relationship. This appears to have been the motivation for the attack with most victims being female.

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Links:

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Bryan Passifiume, Kevin Connor, and Jane Stevenson, 10 dead, 15 wounded when van hits pedestrians near Yonge and Finch, Toronto Sun, April 23, 2018. http://torontosun.com/news/local-news/multiple-pedestrians-struck-by-van-on-yonge-st

 

Ian Austen and Liam Stack, Toronto van driver kills at least 10 people in ‘pure carnage,’ The New York Times, April 23, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/23/world/toronto-van.

 

Charmaine Noronha and David Crary, Toronto van driver posted anti-women Facebook message before attack, police say. Chicago Tribune, April 25, 2018. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-toronto-driver-murder-charges-20180424-story.html
 

CBS News staff, What we know about Alek Minassian, man charged in deadly Toronto van attack, CBS News, updated April 24, 2018. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-van-attack-driver-profile-alek-minassian-1.4632435

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