RCMP Lay Terrorism Charges Against Man Accused of Edmonton City Hall Attack

A RCMP patch is seen on a uniform in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

The RCMP has laid two terrorism charges against a security guard accused of throwing Molotov cocktails and firing gunshots inside Edmonton City Hall in January.

Bezhani Sarvar, 28, has been  charged with counselling commission of a terrorism offence and possession of property for terrorist purposes, the Federal Policing Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) said in a March 4 release.

These are in addition to nine other charges that constitute terrorism offences, including arson, possession of incendiary material, careless use of a firearm, use of a firearm while committing an offence, and throwing explosives with the intent to cause harm.

The charges were laid in connection with an armed suspect entering city hall Jan. 23 and firing several shots into the building’s ceiling, walls and windows. He also allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail from the second floor of the atrium before being detained by an unarmed security guard.

Security footage of the incident showed the suspect firing several rounds from a SKS rifle before dropping his weapon, removing his jacket, and walking out of camera range. Edmonton police have said the man surrendered to a city hall security commissionaire, who detained him until police arrived.

City hall was full of people during the shooting, including a class of Grade 1 students. No one was hurt, but the incident caused security to lockdown the building for several hours, police said.

City police and RCMP tactical teams spent several hours securing and clearing the building, escorting out citizens who had been sheltering in various locations. Edmonton police have said the shooter acted alone.

Manifesto

Mr. Sarvar has worked as a security guard since 2019, and was assigned to several locations across Edmonton, but never at city hall. He remains in custody at the Calgary Remand Centre and is scheduled to appear in court on March 5, according to the RCMP.

“The criminal investigation is ongoing and now before the court and, as such, the RCMP will not be making any further comments at this time,” the force said.

Mr. Sarvar recorded a manifesto video on social media, which police said may be related to the shooting. In the video, Mr. Sarvar gives the Muslim greeting “Salaam Alaikum” and then calls for people to rise up against the “wokeism disease” and against those involved in the “genocide that’s going on in Gaza.”

After claiming he is “not a psychopath” Mr. Sarvar mentioned several separate grievances such as “wokeism,” inflation, the housing crisis, and “unrest” caused by religion and multiculturalism. In reference to Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Mr. Sarvar also claims those engaging in the “genocide” must be put on trial.

Phil Gurski, a 30-year veteran of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Communications Security Establishment, told The Epoch Times Mr. Sarvar’s manifesto is “a dog’s breakfast of issues” and it does not contain some of the usual markers tied to Islamist extremism.

Mr. Gurski said the “laundry list” of things Mr. Sarvar mentioned in his manifesto didn’t fit into a well-defined category. Mr. Gurski also questioned the logic behind targeting Edmonton City Hall, as it has little influence over the war in the Gaza Strip.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.