Wikipedia

2020 Toronto machete attack

On February 24, 2020, a misogynistic terrorist attack occurred at the Crown Spa, an erotic massage parlor located on Dufferin Street in North York, Toronto, Canada.[1][2][3][4][5] Oguzhan Sert, who was 17 at the time, entered the spa with a 17-inch sword and killed one woman[6] while seriously injuring another; the incident ended when the second injured victim fought back and disarmed him. Even though Sert was a minor during the attack, he was sentenced as an adult to life imprisonment with no chance of parole for 10 years. Canadian courts classified the homicide as the country's first act of terrorism motivated by incel ideology.[7][8]

Toronto machete attack
Location43°43′53″N 79°27′32″W / 43.731405°N 79.458929°W / 43.731405; -79.458929
Crown Spa, North York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DateFebruary 24, 2020
~12:00 pm (UTC−05:00)
Attack type
Slashing
WeaponMachete (17-inch sword)
Deaths1
Injured2 (including the perpetrator)
VictimAshley Noell Arzaga
PerpetratorOguzhan Sert
MotiveIncel ideology
Convictions
  • Murder - terrorist activity
  • Attempted murder - terrorist activity

Forensic evidence from Sert's digital life showed that he had become radicalized in online communities, where he began viewing his plan as a contribution to a wider "incel rebellion". He directly named previous mass killers Alek Minassian and Elliot Rodger as the main inspirations for the stabbing.[9]

Background

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The Crown Spa was a female-operated establishment offering erotic and exotic massages, located on Dufferin Street in the Downsview neighbourhood of North York.[2] Sert lived less than two kilometres from the spa.[10]

Attack

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Surveillance video showed the perpetrator leaving his home by foot towards the Crown Spa, less than two kilometres away.[10] At around noon, he entered the spa and drew a 17-inch sword, killing receptionist Ashley Arzaga. The sword was engraved with the words "thot slayer" (thot is a slang word for a sexually promiscuous woman, similar to "whore".) [10][11][12]

The spa owner observed the attack and was set upon by the perpetrator.[13][14] As the owner and the perpetrator struggled on the floor, the owner disarmed the perpetrator and stabbed him in the back, critically injuring him.[13][10][11][12][14] During the attack, the perpetrator shouted misogynistic expletives.[11][12] The spa owner suffered serious injuries to her arm and finger.[14]

Victims

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Emergency crews were called to the spa after reports of a bleeding man and woman outside. They were taken to hospital with serious injuries.[15][16]

Inside the spa, a woman was found dead. She was later identified as 24-year-old Ashley Noell Arzaga.[16][15] She was described by friends as a doting mother to a five-year-old girl.[16][17]

Perpetrator

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The 17-year-old perpetrator was arrested and charged with first degree murder and attempted murder.[15] The Youth Criminal Justice Act initially prevented him from being named because of his age,[15][18][16] but this was later revoked when his case was moved to an adult court. Multiple media sources identified him as Oguzhan Sert,[19][20] born in Canada to a Mexican mother and Turkish father. He was later diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorder.[21]

A note was found on the perpetrator which read "Long Live the Incel Rebellion".[10][11][12] The perpetrator told paramedics that he had come to the spa to kill everyone inside the building and that he was glad to have killed one person.[10][11][12] A forensic search of the perpetrator's computer found web searches related to incels and images of Alek Minassian (whom he called an "inspiration")[10] and Elliot Rodger.[10][11] The perpetrator's profile on Steam stated that he was a "Proud Incel".[11] When asked by police why he identified as an incel, the perpetrator stated: "You don't choose to become an incel. You are born one".[10]

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In May 2020, the charges were upgraded to "murder—terrorist activity" and "attempted murder—terrorist activity".[13][22][18] In a joint statement, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Toronto Police Service announced that investigations had determined that the attack "was inspired by the Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremist (IMVE) movement commonly known as INCEL".[13][22] Incels are members of a misogynistic online subculture that define themselves as unable to find a romantic or sexual partner. The RCMP and TPS also said, "As a result, federal and provincial Attorneys General have consented to commence terrorism proceedings, alleging that the murder was terrorist activity ... and the attempted murder was terrorist activity."[13][22][16] This was the first time in Canada that someone was charged with terrorism because of a misogynist ideology.[23]

On September 14, 2022, the perpetrator entered a guilty plea to murder and attempted murder.[11][12] During his sentencing, he expressed regret, claiming that "it wasn't worth it".[10] On June 6, 2023, the attack was ruled a terrorist attack by Ontario's Superior Court, marking the first time in Canada that an accused was found to have committed an incel-ideologically motivated terrorist act.[24] On November 28, 2023, the perpetrator was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 10 years. Additionally, a concurrent three-year sentence was imposed for attempted murder.[25]

See also

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Further reading

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References

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  1. ↑ Westoll, Nick (February 25, 2020). "17-year-old charged with 1st-degree murder after stabbing at Toronto massage parlour". globalnews.ca. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Bell, Stewart; Russell, Andrew; McDonald, Catherine (May 19, 2020). "Deadly attack at Toronto erotic spa was incel terrorism, police allege". globalnews.ca. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  3. ↑ Bolsvert, Nick (May 19, 2020). "Homicide at Toronto massage parlour was an act of incel terrorism, police say". CBC.ca. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  4. ↑ Herhalt, Chris (May 19, 2020). "Massage parlour stabbing was act of 'incel' terrorism: RCMP". CP24. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  5. ↑ D'andrea, Aaron (February 28, 2020). "Murder at 'erotic' North York spa prompts safety cries from advocates". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  6. ↑ Connor, Kevin (February 26, 2020). "Spa murder victim a 'kind, loving' mom of one..." Toronto Sun. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  7. ↑ O'Brien, Abby (June 6, 2023). "Toronto massage parlour murder was act of terrorism, court finds in 'historical decision'". CTVNews. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ Loriggio, Paola (November 28, 2023). "Man who pleaded guilty in incel-inspired Toronto murder sentenced to life in prison". CBC News. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  9. ↑ Hall, Lana (April 3, 2024). "The Incel Terrorist". Macleans.ca. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Nassar, Shanifa (September 14, 2022). "Toronto spa killer pleads guilty to murder in deadly sword attack, cites van attacker as 'inspiration'". CBC.ca.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hasham, Alyshah (September 14, 2022). "17-year-old spa killer said he was inspired by Toronto van attack, cited 'incel rebellion'". Toronto Star.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mandel, Michele (September 14, 2022). "MANDEL: Guilty plea in alleged incel-inspired sword attack on Toronto spa worker". Toronto Sun.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Bell, Stewart; Russell, Andrew; McDonald, Catherine (May 19, 2020). "Deadly attack at Toronto erotic spa was incel terrorism, police allege". globalnews.ca. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 Golding, Janice (February 25, 2020). "Teen charged in fatal stabbing at Downsview massage parlour; victim identified". CP24.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Westoll, Nick (February 25, 2020). "17-year-old charged with 1st-degree murder after stabbing at Toronto massage parlour". globalnews.ca. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Herhalt, Chris (May 19, 2020). "Massage parlour stabbing was act of 'incel' terrorism: RCMP". CP24. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  17. ↑ Connor, Kevin (February 26, 2020). "Spa murder victim a 'kind, loving' mom of one: GoFundMe". Toronto Sun.
  18. 1 2 Cecco, Leyland (May 19, 2020). "Canada police say machete killing was 'incel' terror attack". The Guardian. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  19. ↑ Maclean's (April 3, 2024). "The Incel Terrorist". Macleans.ca. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  20. ↑ Isai, Vjosa (November 28, 2023). "In Canada, a Judge Sentences an Incel Killer as a Terrorist". The New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  21. ↑ "A 17-year-old who attacked two sex workers, killing one, at a North York Spa in 2020 has been sentenced as an adult | Watch News Videos Online". Global News. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  22. 1 2 3 Bolsvert, Nick (May 19, 2020). "Homicide at Toronto massage parlour was an act of incel terrorism, police say". CBC.ca. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Canada lays first ever terror charges in a murder linked to misogynist movement". NewsBank. Agence France-Presse. May 20, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Incel-inspired Toronto massage parlour murder was act of terror, judge rules". CBC News. June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  25. ↑ Loriggio, Paola. "Man who pleaded guilty in incel-inspired Toronto murder sentenced to life in prison". CBC. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
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