The 28-year-old man charged in the Edmonton City Hall shooting in January will now face additional charges related to terrorism.
The RCMP confirmed on Monday that Bezhani Sarvar has been charged with possession of property for terrorist purposes and counselling commission of a terrorism offence.
Sarvar is also charged with intentionally or recklessly causing damage by fire or explosion to property while knowing the property was inhabited and intentionally possessing incendiary material while committing an indictable offence.
Those charges are in addition to his previous counts of using a firearm while committing a crime, intentionally discharging a firearm, and carrying a concealed weapon, among other charges.
Multiple gunshots rang out at Edmonton’s City Hall Jan. 23 and a Molotov cocktail was thrown inside, leading to the immediate evacuation of the building.
Police confirmed within hours of the shooting that no one had been injured and that they had made an arrest.
The surrounding roads were closed and residents were asked to stay away from the area.
Police later discovered a video they believed to be of Sarvar saying he was “just tired of seeing the tyranny and corruption taking over our society and our lives.”
The man in the video also aired grievances about “wokism,” the housing crisis, multiculturalism, and what he referred to as the “genocide” in Gaza.
“As-Salaam-Alaikum. Brothers and sisters, before I do my mission, I want you all to know that I am not a psychopath. I do not believe in bloodshed. I am not one of these monsters that hurt children, that hurt innocents, and that promote wars all around the civilization of our society,” said the man in the video.
“And inshallah, we will rise against you guys, and we’ll put you on trial.”
Sarvar remains in custody at the Calgary Remand Centre while he awaits his next scheduled court appearance on Tuesday, according to Global News.
