Toronto man charged in military centre stabbing acted as ‘terrorist group of one,’ Crown says
TORONTO — A man with schizophrenia acted as a “terrorist group of one” when he attacked soldiers at a military recruitment centre in Toronto, federal prosecutors said as they argued the 30-year-old should be found not criminally responsible for terror offences rather than having the charges dismissed.
Crown and defence lawyers agree that, as a result of serious mental illness, Ayanle Hassan Ali could not appreciate his actions were morally wrong when he slashed at Canadian Forces personnel with a kitchen knife on May 14, 2016, leaving at least two soldiers with minor injuries.
But the two sides disagree on whether Ali should be facing terror charges.
The Crown argues that while Ali should be found not criminally responsible for his actions, he did commit a terrorist act and the court’s verdict should reflect that.