Canadian man stabs two in Toronto

Police said the man they apprehended on Tuesday in connection with a double stabbing in Toronto was likely a "lone wolf" attacker.

Twenty-seven-year-old Ayanie Hassan Ali walked into a military recruitment center on Monday and stabbed two men working there with a knife. He also reportedly attacked a female soldier, but was restrained before he could injure her. Neither man was fatally hurt.

According to authorities, the attacker was overheard saying, "Allah told me to do this, Allah told me to kill people."

Investigation still ongoing

Ali, a native of Montreal who has lived in Toronto for five years, has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and possession of and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Toronto police chief Mark Saunders (pictured) said the investigation into Ali is still ongoing, but also said the evidence so far suggests the attacker was acting alone, and not in concert with a terrorist organization. However, he also acknowledged it would be some time before they had a complete picture of what happened.

Ali was arraigned in court on Tuesday. His attorney wouldn't speculate on whether or not the man has mental health issues.

Tuesday's attack was not the first targeting Canadian authorities. In 2014, a man purportedy inspired by the "Islamic State" (IS) terrorist organization ran over two soldiers with his car and Quebec. Two days later, another man shot a Canadian soldier at a war memorial in Ottowa and then stormed the parliament before being killed by authorities.

blc/kms (dpa, AFP)