Police chief calls for no 'Islamophobia nonsense' following knife attack on recruitment center

Brett T. | 4:51 PM on March 15, 2016

As Twitchy reported, a 27-year-old man allegedly staged a knife attack on a military recruitment center in Toronto yesterday afternoon, stabbing and wounding two before being tackled by a group of soldiers and taken into custody. Toronto’s police chief wasn’t willing to speculate before further investigation, but he did report that the man uttered “certain comments” during the attack that were of concern to the police.

A day later, some of the puzzle pieces are falling into place, giving a clearer picture of the alleged attacker’s motive. The biggest clue: the attacker himself claiming that “Allah told me to do this.”

https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/709785452094468096

CBC News, also careful not to speculate, reported today that the suspect, Ayanle Hassan Ali, said during the knife attack, “Allah told me to do this, Allah told me to come here and kill people.” Ali faces three charges of attempted murder, two charges of aggravated assault, three charges of assault with a weapon, and one count of carrying a weapon dangerous to the public (a “very large knife”).

Chief Mark Saunders, when asked if this was a terror attack, told the press that police would not jump to conclusions; however, he did insist that he didn’t want to see any of this “Islamophobia nonsense” in reaction to the attack.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was downright hawkish in comparison.

Canadians – and the @CanadianForces – will not be intimidated by terror & hate. May the CAF members injured yesterday make a full recovery.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 15, 2016

Actually, CBC reports that Ali is a Canadian citizen born in Montreal. Saunders told reporters Ali has no previous criminal record, and there was nothing to indicate any affiliation with known terrorist organizations; however, he is said not to be cooperating with police. Ali’s lawyer said his client “seems very scared.”

Lawyer David Burke tells reporter stabbing suspect Ali is “very scared right now” https://t.co/iOpZgjJeYS pic.twitter.com/qR8gZ41gT2

— CBC Toronto (@CBCToronto) March 15, 2016

https://twitter.com/wwwbikerider/status/709816777773953024

@CBCToronto @CBCNews Aw, poor baby. I wonder how his stabbing victims feel?

— Michael Carman (@Arc_Light) March 15, 2016

@CBCToronto Why should he be scared? Allah will protect him. Maybe the PM too. Real Canadians will back their military.

— JD (@Anubis716) March 15, 2016