2018 Toronto van attack

2018 Toronto van attack
2018 Toronto van attack
	A CCTV still of the van moments before hitting pedestrians
	Attack location Attack location (Toronto) Attack location Attack location (Canada)
Location	North York City Centre, North York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date	April 23, 2018 ; 1:22 – 1:32 p.m. (EDT)
Target	Pedestrians
Attack type	Vehicle-ramming attack, mass murder
Weapon	Chevrolet Express van
Deaths	11 (including a victim who died in 2021)
Injured	15
Perpetrator	Alek Minassian
Motive	Disputed:; • Acquiring fame or infamy, misogynist terrorism, revenge for sexual and social rejection, incel ideology (prosecution); • Severe mental illness, (defence);
Verdict	Guilty on all counts
Convictions	10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder
Sentence	Life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for 25 years

810m
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Attack began

Mel Lastman Square

Van stopped

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On April 23, 2018, a vehicle-ramming attack occurred when a rented van was driven along Yonge Street through the North York City Centre business district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The driver, 25-year-old Alek Minassian, targeted pedestrians, killing 11 and injuring 15, 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. Nine of the eleven killed were women. The perpetrator was arrested just south of the crime scene, after exiting his vehicle and attempting to commit suicide by cop.

The attack was labelled by some as misogynist terrorism because Minassian claimed to be an incel seeking revenge for perceived rejection by women, following the lead of Elliot Rodger. Minassian pleaded not criminally responsible to the initial 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder, but was found guilty on all counts. The presiding judge stated that pinpointing Minassian's exact motive was "close to impossible", but expert testimony suggested a desire for notoriety. In June 2022, Minassian was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 25 years.