Man gets 16-year sentence for terrorist attack on Surrey bus passenger
Abdul Aziz Kawam was convicted of attempted murder to advance the objectives of the Islamic State group.
SURREY · A British Columbia Supreme Court judge sentenced Abdul Aziz Kawam to 16 years and eight months in prison on Thursday for a terrorist attack on a Surrey bus. Kawam received 15 years for attempted murder and an additional 20 months for aggravated assault, with the terms to be served consecutively. He was convicted last June for slashing a passenger's throat to advance the objectives of the Islamic State terror group. The federal prosecution service described the April 2023 assault as a deliberate act meant to instill public fear.
George Dolhai, the service's director of public prosecutions, said the violence supported an ideological-political organization, not a faith. "The violence was carried out in support of an ideological-political organization, not the Islamic faith," Dolhai said in a statement. He stated that misusing religion for extremist purposes requires a firm rejection of ideological violence to maintain Canadian unity. Dolhai added the attack targeted all Canadians, including Canadian Muslims.
The incident began on April 1, 2023, at a bus stop near Fraser Highway and 156th Street. Police said Kawam, then 31, approached a man, asked if he was Muslim, and threatened him with a knife when he said no. After praying briefly, Kawam chased the man with the weapon but the victim escaped unharmed. Kawam then boarded a Coast Mountain transit bus where he rode silently near a second victim for about three minutes before attacking.
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Kawam suddenly pulled out a large knife and slashed at the other passenger's neck three times with intent to kill, according to trial admissions. As screams erupted, the bleeding victim pushed his attacker off the bus. "He was bleeding out of his neck and he still managed to throw his attacker off the bus," said Oren Bick of the Public Prosecution Service. Crown prosecutor Sharon Steele said the victim's calm defence likely saved other passengers from injury.
The knife cut the victim's vocal cords and narrowly missed a main artery, his brother-in-law told media. Chris Jensen, whose partner is the victim's sister, said the damage to his brother-in-law's vocal cords was significant and a sharper blade could have been fatal. After being forced off the bus, Kawam pledged allegiance to the Islamic State leader and was arrested holding the bloody knife. The RCMP noted he had already served over three years in pre-sentence custody.
Prosecutors had sought a 20-year sentence while the defence argued for seven years. With credit for time served since his 2023 arrest, Kawam faces just over 11 more years in prison. "As the court process concludes, we hope this outcome provides a measure of reassurance to those affected and our commitment to keeping our communities safe," said RCMP Cpl. Parmbir Kahlon. The court found Kawam guilty of attempted murder and assault with a weapon for the benefit of a terrorist group.
With files from The Canadian Press, CBC News and Global News