Police: Grisly throat-slashing and knife attack in western Canada was ISIS terrorism

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have charged a 28-year-old with terrorism in connection with an ISIS-linked attack outside Vancouver, British Columbia.

The suspect, Abdul Aziz Kawam, allegedly flashed a large knife around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at a bus stop near the Fraser Highway and 148 Street in Surrey, reported Global News.

Metro Vancouver Transit Police constable Amanda Steed told Canadian state media that at the bus stop, the suspected terrorist "brandished the knife, holding it to the victim's throat."

"That victim was able to break free and run away. And then the suspect ran from there and boarded the bus with the second victim at 156th and Fraser. They both boarded at the same place," said Steed.

Police say that aboard the Coast Mountain bus, carrying around 20 people, Kawam stabbed a passenger in the neck, ostensibly at random and without provocation.

Despite an open neck, the victim fought back and managed to boot the suspect out the back doors of the bus.

The victim was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, but is expected to make a full recovery. According to a nurse at the hospital, the victim only survived because the knife's edge had been too dull.

The Vancouver Sun reported that the second victim was an off-duty bus driver.

Kawam was initially charged with attempted murder, assault with a weapon, and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

As his alleged remarks during the attacks were suggestive of an Islamist rationale, the MVTP ultimately reached out to the RCMP-led Integrated National Security Enforcement Team.

"During the course of our investigation, it was determined that the suspect made quite a few concerning statements, which is why we notified the RCMP INSET," said Steed. "So they have taken on an investigation as well. And we’re working with them. But from here on, they will be in charge of the investigation and they have forwarded their own charges along with ours."

Prosecutors added four counts of terrorism on Monday, alleging Kawam attacked Canadians "for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a terrorist group, to wit: the Islamic State."

There was another possible Canadian run-in with ISIS at the beginning of Ramadan.

On March 23, the RCMP arrested Mohamed Amine Assal, 18, in the province of Quebec on suspicion that he was planning to commit a terrorism offense. The FBI had tipped off Canadian authorities to the possible threat.

The Montreal Gazette reported that Assal is suspected of facilitating and counseling terrorist acts. An FBI source indicated that Assal may have been groomed along with six others by an ISIS supporter in Italy to "conduct attacks."

Kawam's alleged attack is also not the first daylight stabbing in a public place in recent days.

This possible terror attack comes just days after 37-year-old Paul Stanley Schmidt was brutally stabbed to death in front of his wife and kids outside a Vancouver Starbucks. Schmidt had reportedly asked the murderer responsible not to vape in front of his baby girl.

In the wake of Schmidt's murder and the Surrey terror attack, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said leftist Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "has unleashed a crime wave like we have never seen in this country."

Weekend knife attack on BC bus was ISIS terrorism, RCMP allegesyoutu.be

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