UPDATE: Toronto Van Killer Praised ‘Incel’ On Social Media
25 year-old Alek Minassin who is the van driver accused of killing 10 people in Toronto posted to Facebook minutes before the attack to praise killer Elliot Rodger and refer to the misogynist ‘incel’ Reddit group.
Minassian was charged on Tuesday with 10 counts of murder and 13 counts of attempted murder.
Police said he appeared to intentionally strike pedestrians after mounting a busy pavement in a rental van.
He was arrested several blocks away after a tense standoff with police.
Mr Minassian’s Facebook post, which the social network has confirmed as real, praised Elliott Rodger, a 22-year-old from California who killed six people in a shooting rampage through Isla Vista, California in 2014, before turning the gun on himself.
It read: “The Incel Rebellion has already begun! We will overthrow all the Chads and Stacys! All hail the Supreme Gentleman Elliot Rodger!”
The term “incel” refers to a now-banned group on the message site Reddit, used by Rodger, where young men discussed their lack of sexual activity and attractiveness to women – often blaming women for the problem.
“Chads and Stacys” refers to attractive men and women who are perceived as better than or unavailable to “incels”, which is short for “involuntary celibate”.
Toronto Police Detective Sergeant Graham Gibson said at a press conference on Tuesday, that the 10 dead and 14 wounded were “predominantly” women.
He said the youngest were in their twenties and the eldest in their eighties.
Authorities have not yet formally identified any of the victims.
Mr Minassian appeared in court on Tuesday to hear the charges against him. He sported a shaved head and white jumpsuit and held his hands behind his back, showing little emotion throughout.
He was ordered to have no contact with surviving victims and to return to court on 10 May.
A man believed to be a relative of Mr Minassian’s sat in the front row of the court and wept. Asked by reporters after the hearing if he had anything to say, the man replied “sorry”.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident a “senseless attack and a horrific tragedy”.
Yonge Street, where the attack took place, remained closed on Tuesday as police continued their investigation.
A line of officers standing shoulder-to-shoulder walked slowly down the street combing it for remaining evidence.
Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has expressed her condolences to the victims of the attack in Toronto.
Ms Ardern said New Zealand’s thoughts are with the victims of the senseless tragedy and their families and friends.
She said New Zealand stands with Canada during this difficult time.
