CANADA: In a shocking incident at the University of Waterloo, a former student has been charged with multiple offences, including aggravated assault, following a triple stabbing during a gender studies class.
The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, is believed to have been motivated by hate, targeting gender expression and identity.
Geovanny Villalba-Aleman, a 24-year-old recently graduated international student, allegedly walked into the gender studies class of approximately 40 students and asked the professor about the subject before launching the attack with two large knives.
The professor and two students, a 19-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman, were stabbed, while another person narrowly escaped being stabbed.
Waterloo Regional Police Chief Mark Crowell stated during a news conference that investigators believe the suspect planned the attack driven by hate related to gender expression and identity.
He further highlighted that the incident broadly targeted the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Witnesses described students attempting to stop the attack by throwing chairs and other objects at the suspect.
The assailant then tried to pose as a victim but was quickly identified and apprehended by the police within the building where the stabbing occurred.
Emergency services transported the victims to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Chief Crowell expressed his concern about the incident occurring during Pride Month, noting a recent increase in incidents targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
The accused had no prior criminal record, and police were unaware of any online activity supporting the alleged motive. Authorities have sought permission to search the suspect’s home to gather more evidence.
Students on campus voiced their unease and questioned the delay in receiving an emergency alert about the incident. Some students reported waiting several hours before receiving alerts through the campus security system.
University administrators acknowledged the delay in activating the emergency alert system, despite it being tested earlier in the day. They assured students that the response to the attack itself was swift, as police arrived at the scene within three minutes. The university has vowed to improve coordination between human and technological aspects of its alert system.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the stabbings as “horrifying and unacceptable” in a written statement. Students gathered for a moment of silence on the university campus to honour the victims and show solidarity.
The university identified the stabbed educator as Katy Fulfer, an associate professor and undergraduate advisor for the gender and social justice program. The dean of arts described Fulfer as a beloved and respected community member.
The incident has raised concerns about campus safety and the well-being of students. University President Vivek Goel emphasized the availability of mental health support for those affected by the incident.
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