Seneca College student, 25-year-old Alek Minassian has been identified as the driver of the white van that deliberately struck and killed 10 people, leaving 15 others injured in Toronto this afternoon.
Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders made the announcement during a news conference Monday evening.
A picture of Minassian from his LinkedIn page began circulating in the mainstream media, after police identified him.“Yuen said a person is in custody and the investigation by Toronto police is ongoing. “Global News observed multiple bodies on Yonge Street covered with blankets.
“In a statement from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, officials said 10 patients were brought to the hospital. Two of the victims died at hospital, five are in critical condition, two are in serious condition and one is listed in fair condition. “A video posted on Twitter appears to show a standoff between the male suspect and police just before he was arrested. “The suspect appears to come out of the white van with an object in his hands pointed towards a police officer in the street. In the video, the officer could be heard shouting “get down on the ground now.” “The officer walked toward the man, who dropped the object and turned around with his hands in the air. It is unclear what the object was that the suspect was holding. He was subsequently taken into custody. “Toronto police are in the process of setting up two telephone lines in response to the attack. The first one will be for victims and their families. The second will be for witnesses. “Barry Mather, a delivery driver from Bolton, told Global News Radio 640 Toronto’s Kelly Cutrara that he saw a “banged up” white van while he was making a delivery on Bogert Avenue, near Yonge and Sheppard.
“I was coming out of my van and I’d look and I’d hear this scraping and grinding noise and there’s this white Ryder van coming towards me so I had to jump out of the way.” “Nick Sanka told Global News he was studying in an area Starbucks when he saw a truck “just running through.” “I get up, and by the time I come here, I saw someone with blood trailing.” “Sanka said the van was “definitely speeding” and that the driver appeared to be in control. “He did seem to have control over what he was doing … so it wasn’t some sort of impairment where he was swerving,” he said. “He just [drove] straight through – and he managed to make a perfect turn at that corner as well.”Although earlier reports indicated that Minassian was known to Toronto police, police now say Minassian not known to them, not in files at this time. Within hours of the horrific attack, a Muslim radio host was already politicizing the tragedy. “SiriusXM radio host and liberal commentator Dean Obeidallah said in a Monday interview with MSNBC that he "is hoping sincerely" the person who carried out a deadly van attack by plowing into pedestrians in Toronto "is not Muslim" because he believes President Trump will likely "invoke this to try to further a political agenda.” (The Hill, April 23, 2018) The commentary came as Toronto police confirmed that 10 people were dead and 15 were injured after a white van jumped a sidewalk on a busy street, on one of the first Spring-like days in Toronto.
"Being Muslim myself, of course, and everyone who is Muslim I can tell you right now is hoping sincerely that the person who did this horrible act is not Muslim," Obeidallah told MSNBC's Ali Velshi. (Hill) "Because we know what happens. We know the result is a backlash to our community," he continued. "We know that Donald Trump will in all likelihood — not definitely — in all likelihood will invoke this to try to further a political agenda." Obeidallah hosts "The Dean Obeidallah Show" weekdays on SiriusXM's Progress channel.
Hearing a number of people have been hurt at Yonge and Finch. My thoughts are with everyone affected. We’re following the situation closely — working with our federal and municipal partners. Thank you to the first responders caring for victims and witnesses.
— Kathleen Wynne (@Kathleen_Wynne) April 23, 2018
Our thoughts are with all those affected by the terrible incident at Yonge and Finch in Toronto. Thank you to the first responders working at the scene – we're monitoring the situation closely.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 23, 2018
Toronto Mayor @JohnTory: “This is a time when this community should come together…I hope that we will, as a city, remind ourselves of the fact that we are admired around the world for being inclusive and for being accepting and understanding and considerate.” pic.twitter.com/prHLH4n6HR
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 23, 2018
But it is at times like this that sincere prayers are needed for the victims of wanton acts of terrorism. Sincere prayers from the public at large for all of those mowed down and killed today, for the injured, some of whom are in critical and serious condition, sincere prayers for their family members left in heartbreak and in indescribable grief. God protect our country from terrorist attacks.9 dead, 16 injured in Toronto after deliberate attack by van driver suspect Alek Minassian, who was previously know to law enforcement.
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) April 23, 2018
Toronto mayor's response? Oh, hey, this tragedy is tragic, but let's pat ourselves on the backs for our iINCLUSIVENESS & UNDERSTANDING. https://t.co/rFj6oOKNU5
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Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years’ experience in the print media. A former Toronto Sun columnist, she also worked for the Kingston Whig Standard. Her work has appeared on Rush Limbaugh, Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com.
