RCMP investigating if triple stabbing at Quebec restaurant was linked to terrorism
The RCMP said Thursday they are investigating whether a triple stabbing at a restaurant north of Quebec City in December was linked to terrorism.
Members of the Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams, who investigate terrorism cases, will carry out the probe, Sgt. Charles Poirier said in an email.
La Presse on Thursday was first to report on the terrorism investigation into the Dec. 20 attack at restaurant La Belle et La Boeuf in Saguenay's Chicoutimi borough, about 180 kilometres north of Quebec City.
Restaurant employee Ahmed May, 30, was arrested after three of his colleagues were injured in the knife attack.
The Saguenay police received several calls from witnesses of the attack at about 2:20 p.m. on Dec. 20. Two minutes later, a photo of a man pointing his index finger upward was published on the Facebook profile of someone named Ahmed May, who is identified on the profile as an employee of the restaurant La Belle et La Bœuf.
The photo appears to be taken behind the bar of the restaurant; the words “Free Palestine” accompany the photo.
The day before the triple stabbing, posts repeatedly praising Hamas were published on the profile. Hamas, which carried out an attack against Israel on Oct. 7 during which it killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 hostages, is listed by Canada as a "terrorist entity."
May faces numerous charges including three counts of attempted murder, and aggravated assault against two peace officers.
The accused is due back in court on Friday, when more evidence should be disclosed, May's lawyer, Nicolas Gagnon, said in an interview.
“These are documents, witness statements, camera recordings which we knew existed from the start, it’s just that it takes a certain time to recover them,” he said.
Gagnon said his client "is perfectly lucid regarding the events that happened," adding that May is "aware of the seriousness of the accusations brought against him."
Gagnon, a legal aid attorney, says the accused was involved in an altercation with work colleagues. And while the lawyer declined to divulge any details, he said the event occurred because of a deteriorating work climate over several months.
The restaurant reopened on Jan. 4 after a two-week closure. Employees were provided support by the Crime Victim Assistance Centre.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 11, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Evacuation order issued for some Fort McMurray neighbourhoods as wildfire nears
Four Fort McMurray neighbourhoods were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday as a wildfire gets closer to the city.
Maximum payout for LifeLabs class-action drops from $150 estimate to $7.86
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
Sask. police seize 1.5M pieces of evidence, lay 60 more charges in child exploitation case
Saskatchewan RCMP have revealed that a historic sexual assault investigation has led to the discovery of alleged crimes against children dating back to 2005.
BREAKING 'A remarkable time': After 8 years at Toronto Public Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa announces resignation
The doctor who led Toronto through the COVID-19 pandemic as the city’s top public health official is stepping down.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
American sought after 'So I raped you' Facebook message detained in France on 2021 warrant
An American accused of sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013 and later sending her a Facebook message that said, 'So I raped you,' has been detained in France after a three-year search.
Full List Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
1 killed, 3 injured in head-on crash on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.
'Inappropriate' behaviour shuts down Dublin to New York City portal
Less than a week after two public sculptures featuring a livestream between Dublin, Ireland, and New York City debuted, 'inappropriate behaviour' in real-time interactions between people in the two cities has prompted a temporary shutdown.