A 27-year-old man who allegedly stabbed soldiers at a Canadian Forces recruitment centre in Willowdale back in March is now facing a terrorism-related charge.
On March 14, a man entered the Canadian Forces centre on Yonge Street near Greenfield Avenue when a master corporal situated at the door of the office attempted to stop him.
According to police, the suspect stabbed the corporal on his right arm with a “large knife” and proceeded to try and stab a female uniformed Canadian Forces member.
The woman was able to escape the attack without injury.
At that point, military members guided citizens in the building to a safe location while others subdued the man until police arrived. A third military member suffered non-life threatening injuries from a knife while trying to restrain the suspect.
Two injured soldiers were treated in hospital and released the next day.
Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said the suspect reportedly stated “Allah told me to do this. Allah told me to come here and kill people” at one point during the incident. It was not immediately clear whether the words were said during or after the stabbing took place.
Saunders told reporters at police headquarters in March that thorough analysis was needed to determine a motive.
“There has to be a lot of analysis done so we can have a full and proper picture on what exactly motivated this act,” Saunders told reporters.
Toronto police charged a suspect identified as Ayanle Hassan Ali with three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with weapon, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of weapons dangerous.
On Tuesday morning, The Integrated National Security Enforcement Team said Hassan has also been charged with nine additional terrorism-related charges, including carrying a weapon dangerous to the public for the benefit of a terrorist organization.
He now faces a total of 18 charges. None of these charges have been proven in court.
He is expected to make to appearance in court on the new terrorism related charge sometime today.
