B.C. bus attacker gets more than 16 years on terror charges
· Toronto Sun
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A man in British Columbia was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison after he was found guilty of two terror charges for a knife attack aboard a transit bus three years ago.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a news release that 31-year-old Abdul Aziz Kawam was convicted June 30 in B.C. Supreme Court of attempt to commit murder, for the benefit of, or in association with a terrorist group, and assault with a weapon for the benefit of, or in association with a terrorist group.
On Thursday, Kawam was handed a 15-year prison term for attempted murder and a concurrent 20-month sentence for assault with a weapon.
At the time of sentencing, He had spent three years and seven months in jail, and he was credited for five years and four months.
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On the morning of April 1, 2023, Metro Vancouver Transit Police responded to a report of a knife attack at a bus stop in Surrey.
Police said at the time that a man approached a male victim waiting for a bus and held a knife to his throat.
“That victim was able to break free and run away,” said Const. Amanda Steed, the Vancouver Sun reported . “And then the suspect ran from there and boarded the bus with the second victim.”
Victim’s throat slashed
About 10 minutes after the earlier incident, the assailant boarded a Coast Mountain transit bus and slashed the throat of another man, leaving him with serious injuries.
Steed said that victim was a bus driver but he was not on duty nor was he wearing a driver’s uniform.
According to the RCMP, the attacker was pushed off the bus and stated that he pledged allegiance to Abu Al-Hussaini Al-Quraishi – leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) at the time.
Steed said those disturbing comments led investigators to notify the RCMP-led Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET).
Arrested while holding bloody knife
Kawam was arrested by frontline officers while holding the bloody knife and was held in custody.
Steed said, in 2019, transit police dealt with Kawam for a “mental-health-related” incident. At the time, provincial court records showed he had no criminal history.
“Incidents of this nature have a profound impact on the individuals involved and the whole community,” Cpl. Parmbir Kahlon, of the Federal Policing Pacific Region, said in a statement.
“As the court process concludes, we hope this outcome provides a measure of reassurance to those affected and our commitment to keeping our communities safe.”