Alek Minassian Wiki -Alek Minassian Biography
Alek Minassian faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder in connection with the April 23, 2018 attack that drew attention to an online world of sexual loneliness, rage and misogyny. He pleaded not guilty last week.
Age
He is 28 years old.
Toronto Van Attack
The Toronto van attack was a vehicle-ramming attack that occurred on April 23, 2018, when a rented van was driven along Yonge Street through the North York City Centre business district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The driver targeted pedestrians, killing 10 and injuring 16, some critically.
The attack started at the intersection of Yonge Street and Finch Avenue and proceeded south along the sidewalks of Yonge Street to near Sheppard Avenue. The driver was taken into custody just south of the crime scene, after leaving the van and reportedly attempting to commit suicide by cop.
The arrest was made at 1:32 p.m. EDT, seven minutes after the first 9-1-1 call reporting the incident was made. The attack is characterized as revenge for perceived sexual and social rejection. The incident is the deadliest vehicle-ramming attack in Canadian history.
Alek Minassian Statement
Minassian, 28, told police he belonged to an online community of sexually frustrated men, some of whom have plotted attacks on people who have sex.
He is accused of driving a rental van into crowds of pedestrians in a busy north Toronto neighbourhood. Eight women and two men ranging in age from 22 to 94 died.
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His lawyer, Boris Bytensky, is arguing his client is not criminally responsible and that Minassian only understood wrongfulness at an intellectual level but not at a rational level, and therefore could not make a rational decision as to whether or not to carry out the attack.
“He lacked the capacity to rationally decide whether it was right or wrong,” Bystensky said.
He added that Minassian does not suffer from any psychopathy or anti-social disorder, and is not narcissistic.
Father’s Statement
Minassian’s father, Vahe Minassian, testified that his son was diagnosed with “pervasive development disorder” when he was five years old. Bystensky said that now is known as an autism spectrum disorder.
Bystensky noted the vast majority of people with autism spectrum disorder are nonviolent and are more likely to be victims of violence. He said the incident was completely unexpected to all that knew him and that Minassian had no history of violence.
Trial Update
The judge has said the case will turn on Minassian’s state of mind at the time.
Minassian, who said he never had a girlfriend and was a virgin, admitted to police he used the van as a weapon and said he wanted to inspire more attacks.
Minassian called himself an “incel,” short for “involuntary celibate,” an online subculture that has been linked to other attacks and that often promotes the idea men are entitled to have sex with women.
Like-minded people in internet forums sometimes use “Chad” and “Stacy” as dismissive slang for men and women with more active sex lives.
