Toronto
Authorities said Monday’s carnage did not trigger a national security threat, suggesting it was not initially viewed as having possible terrorism links.
But investigators have not offered further details on what may have led the driver to plow his rented van through crowds on a warm spring afternoon — claiming at least 10 lives and leaving more than a dozen others injured. Police arrested the suspect at the scene and identified him as Alek Minassian.
In a Toronto court on Tuesday, Minassian wore a white prison jumpsuit with his hands cuffed behind his back. The judge read the charges, which also included 13 counts of attempted murder.
Minassian confirmed his name for the court. He then answered “yes” when asked if he understood a court order not to have any contact with the victims or their families.
The next hearing was scheduled for May 10. Minassian was ordered held pending a possible bail hearing.
In the meantime, officials are attempting to piece together the planning and motives of a suspect who was not previously on any law enforcement watch lists. Witnesses said the van jumped a curb and roared through a crowded pedestrian zone in what appeared to be a deliberate act.
In a news conference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the incident was a “senseless attack and a horrific tragedy.” But he noted that authorities see no national security element in the attack, which carried hallmarks of previous vehicle-as-weapon assaults in New York and several European cities.
Trudeau added that the attack “hasn’t changed the overall threat level in Canada,” although it took place as envoys from the Group of Seven industrialized nations met in Toronto.
Canada’s defense minister confirmed on Tuesday that Minassian was a member of the country’s armed forces for two months beginning in August. He voluntarily left the service after 16 days of recruit training, the minister said without providing further details.