Toronto Police, RCMP lay incel ‘terrorist activity’ charges in spa homicide

By News Staff

Toronto police and the RCMP are laying “terrorist activity” charges in the city’s 12th homicide case where a 24-year-old woman was killed inside a spa in the Dufferin and Wilson Avenue area in February.

In a joint media release, they said it was determined that the crime was “one in which the accused was inspired by the Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremist (IMVE) movement commonly known as INCEL (involuntary celibate).”

Police responded to a call for a stabbing in the area on Feb. 24 at 12:40 p.m.

When officers arrived they found a man and woman outside the spa premises suffering from multiple stab wounds.

Inside the business they found a woman who was pronounced dead on the scene. She was identified as Ashley Noelle Arzaga from Toronto.

On that same day, a 17-year-old male was arrested and charged with one count each of first-degree murder and attempted murder.

Shortly after the incident, Toronto police contacted the RCMP after finding evidence that the crime could be linked to a “terrorist activity” as per section 83.01(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada, which partly defines such activity as an act “in whole or in part for a political, religious or ideological purpose, objective or cause.”

The accused appeared in court via video on Tuesday to face updated charges of first-degree murder — terrorist activity, invoking section 231 (6.01) of the Criminal Code and attempted murder, Section 239(1) – terrorist activity, invoking section 2, 83.01(b) and 83.27 of the Criminal Code.

The law enforcement agencies added that the incident is considered isolated and there is no threat to the public.

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