Murder charge in Edmonton attack
Police think Somali refugee acted alone
EDMONTON • Police have criminally charged a Somali refugee who attacked an officer and ran down pedestrians with a truck — but are holding off on terrorism charges for now.
RCMP Supt. Stacey Talbot, with Alberta’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, said the investigation of Abdulahi Hasan Sharif is still “in its infancy.”
“The complexities of a terrorism investigation are vast,” Talbot said Monday. “We continue to collect and gather information.
“As the investigation unfolds and further information is garnered and if additional charges are supported, they will be pursued at that time.”
Sharif, 30, was to make his first appearance Tuesday in provincial court on 11 charges, including five counts of attempted murder.
He has also been charged with dangerous driving, four counts of criminal flight causing bodily harm and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Police raised the possibility of terrorism charges on Sunday when revealing that Sharif had been investigated two years earlier for espousing extremist views and was found to have an Islamic State flag in his car.
Edmonton police have said they believe the suspect acted alone during the series of attacks, which began around 8:15 on Saturday night.
That’s when Edmonton police Const. Mike Chernyk, who was handling crowd control at a CFL game outside Commonwealth Stadium, just northeast of downtown, was hit by a speeding white Chevy Malibu that rammed through a barrier.
The driver got out, pulled out a large knife and began stabbing Chernyk, who fought back. The suspect fled on foot.
Chernyk, 48, was cut on his face and had abrasions on his arms. He was released from hospital Sunday.
Police knew the name of the Malibu’s registered owner, as well as the suspect’s physical description, and set up roadblocks. Officers stopped the suspect, now driving a U-Haul truck, hours later a checkpoint near the stadium.
With police in pursuit, the suspect took off toward the downtown, mowing down four pedestrians along the way. The chase continued until police forced the truck to crash on its side. They then used a stun gun on the driver.
Two of the four pedestrians remain in hospital, one with a fractured skull.