Alek Minassian is accused of carrying out one of the most deadly attacks in Toronto's history. Today we are hearing directly from him. Publication bans have been lifted on the statement he gave to police in the hours after the Yonge Street van attack. Ten people were killed and 15 others injured that fateful day in April of last year.
It's nine hours after panic set in on Yonge Street.
Alek Minassian is sitting in the corner of a police interview room looking calm, cool and collected.
Detective Robert Thomas is conducting the interview and spends a great deal of time making sure Minassian was read his rights and that he understands them.
The following transcript is a selection of the interview which lasted for over four hours.
DET. THOMAS: Do you understand what first degree murder is?
MINASSIAN: It's ah preme - premeditated murder and completely intentional and considered to be what's known as in cold blood.
Minassian is asked if he understands that he's being charged with nine counts of first degree murder and he acknowledges that he does. He would later learn that would be upgraded to 10 counts of first degree murder.
DET. THOMAS: Alright uhm how much sleep did you have last night?
MINASSIAN: About eight hours.
DET. THOMAS: About eight hours and, and how did you sleep?
MINASSIAN: I slept well.
DET. THOMAS: You slept well and, and where, where did you sleep? Was it your home?
MINASSIAN: I ah I decline I do not wish to answer that.
DET. THOMAS: Okay, alright. Ah nevertheless you slept well okay uhm I want to ask you something Alek and this is important ah are you on any kind of medication right now?
MINASSIAN: No.
Detective Thomas continues to question Minassian about his time at Thornlea Secondary School and whether he was identified as someone with special needs. These questions go unanswered.
They move on to his goal of becoming a computer software developer and the course he had been taking at Seneca College. Minassian also spoke of his time in the Army and wanting to learn about weapons, assault rifles in particular.
The conversation flows, Minassian appears to be unfazed.
It's when the topic of women and relationships comes up that you see a glimmer of emotion.
He admits he's never been in an intimate relationship with a woman, despite his efforts, and that it's frustrating for him.
DET. THOMAS: Okay, alright. Uhm in terms of females I mean females and women because you're 25 you're a young man alright we'll call them women ah in terms of your feelings towards women in general ah how would you describe that?
MINASSIAN: I would say that sometimes I am a bit upset that they choose to ah date ah obnoxious men instead of ah a gentleman.
DET. THOMAS: And these guys I'm thinking you're, you're talking about the fellows who are loud ah, ah arrogant uhm ah generally ah tihin outgoing and popular with girls ---
MINASSIAN: Yes.
DET. THOMAS: ---is that what you're talking about?
MINASSIAN: Yes.
DET. THOMAS: Okay uhm and you have a problem with the women that date these fellows.
MINASSIAN: Yes.
DET. THOMAS: Why is it that you have a problem with, with the women?
MINASSIAN: Because I feel that ah it's illogical to be ah dating such men when they can be dating a gentleman instead.
He says he began resenting women in college and that one night in 2013 was a defining moment.
MINASSIAN: On Halloween of ah 2013 I was attending a house party ---
DET. THOMAS: Uhuh.
MINASSIAN: -- and I ah walked in and attempted to ah socialize with some ah girls, ah however they all ah laughed at me and ah held the arms of the ah big guys instead.
The years passed and Minassian grew increasingly angry. His frustrations were fuelled in chatrooms where he found likeminded men that self-identify as Incels.
Facebook
DET. THOMAS: -- involuntary celibate. What does that mean?
MINASSIAN: That means in - celibacy means ah, ah someone who had never before has sexual intercourse.
DET. THOMAS: Right.
MINASSIAN: Ah involuntary celibacy means this wasn't your choice who --- essentially are ah, have been thrown into true force loneliness and you're unable to lose your virginity.
DET. THOMAS: Right.
MINASSIAN: This is especially ah painful for ah young males.
The Incels have dubbed the men who get the girls "Chads" and the girls who go for them "Staceys."
DET. THOMAS: So explain to me this movement, what's this movement about?
MINASSIAN: lt's basically - it's basically a movement of angry ah incels such as myself who are unable to get laid, therefore we want to overthrow the ah Chads --
DET. THOMAS: Uhuh.
MINASSIAN: --- which would ah force the Stacey's to be forced to ah reproduce with the incels.
DET. THOMAS: Right, right okay and when you say incels ---
MINASSIAN: Involuntary ah eel - celibate.
When Detective Thomas gets to the topic of the van, Minassian appears chillingly matter-of-fact.