2020 Toronto machete attack

Background of the Attack and Location

The Crown Spa was a female-operated business offering erotic and exotic massages, situated on Dufferin Street in the Downsview neighbourhood of North York. The assailant, Oguzhan Sert, lived less than two kilometres from the establishment. The attack occurred in the broader context of a rising concern over ideologically motivated violent extremism, particularly online subcultures promoting misogyny. In the years prior, other high-profile attacks in North America, including the 2014 Isla Vista killings and the 2018 Toronto van attack, had been linked to similar incel ideologies. The location of the spa, as a female-operated business, was specifically targeted by Sert as a symbol of the female presence he blamed for his personal grievances. The attack was planned, with Sert leaving his home on foot shortly before noon to walk to the spa.

The Attack and Immediate Aftermath

On February 24, 2020, at approximately noon, Oguzhan Sert left his home on foot and walked to the Crown Spa. Surveillance footage captured his approach to the business. Upon entering, he immediately drew a 17-inch sword that was engraved with the words 'thot slayer'. He attacked the receptionist, Ashley Arzaga, killing her. The spa owner witnessed the assault and intervened, leading to a violent struggle on the floor. During the confrontation, the assailant shouted misogynistic expletives. The owner managed to disarm Sert, stabbing him in the back in the process and critically injuring him, which ended the attack. The owner sustained serious injuries to her arm and finger during the fight. Emergency services were called to the scene after reports of a bleeding man and woman outside the premises. They transported the injured owner and the wounded assailant to hospital, while inside, Ashley Arzaga was found deceased. Police and paramedics secured the area for investigation.

The Victims

The sole fatality was 24-year-old Ashley Noell Arzaga, who worked as a receptionist at the Crown Spa. She was described by friends as a doting mother to a five-year-old daughter. The second victim was the spa owner, a woman whose identity has not been publicly disclosed. She suffered serious physical injuries during her efforts to disarm the attacker. Her injuries required hospital treatment, and her actions were crucial in preventing further loss of life. The violent nature of the assault, with Arzaga being stabbed approximately 40 times according to court testimony, showed the extreme brutality of the attacker's actions. The attack left a deep impact on the local community in Downsview.

Investigation of the Perpetrator and Radicalization

Oguzhan Sert was 17 years old at the time of the attack, born in Canada to a Mexican mother and a Turkish father. Initially, his identity was protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, but it was later revealed when his case was moved to adult court. A forensic examination of his digital life provided extensive evidence of his radicalization. The investigation involved both the Toronto Police Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Integrated National Security Enforcement Team. Key findings from the investigation included:

• A note found on his person reading 'Long Live the Incel Rebellion'.
• Web searches and saved images related to the incel movement on his computer.
• Explicit references to Alek Minassian, perpetrator of the 2018 Toronto van attack, whom he called an 'inspiration'.
• References to Elliot Rodger, perpetrator of the 2014 Isla Vista killings.
• A Steam profile where he identified as a 'Proud Incel'.
• He told paramedics his goal was to kill everyone inside the building and expressed gladness at having killed one person.

When questioned by police, Sert stated that one does not choose to become an incel but is born one. He was later diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorder. The digital evidence showed a clear progression from online consumption of incel material to planning a real-world attack.

Legal Proceedings and Terrorism Designation

The legal response to this attack broke new ground in Canadian law. Sert was initially arrested and charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. In May 2020, following a joint investigation, those charges were upgraded to 'murder, terrorist activity' and 'attempted murder, terrorist activity'. This was the first time in Canada that someone was charged with terrorism offences motivated by a misogynist ideology. The police stated that the attack was inspired by the Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremist movement known as INCEL. On September 14, 2022, Sert entered a guilty plea to murder and attempted murder. The legal ruling came on June 6, 2023, when Ontario's Superior Court ruled the attack was a terrorist act, marking the first judicial finding in Canada of incel-ideologically motivated terrorist activity. On November 28, 2023, despite being a minor at the time of the crime, Sert was sentenced as an adult to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for 10 years, with a concurrent three-year sentence for attempted murder. During his sentencing, he expressed regret, claiming that 'it wasn't worth it'. The Crown had applied to have him sentenced as an adult, while his defence argued he was neither an incel nor a terrorist and sought a juvenile detention sentence. The terrorism ruling was a factor in sentencing, not a separate charge.

Context and Definition of Incel Ideology

The term 'incel', short for involuntary celibate, refers to an online, predominantly male subculture whose members blame women and society for their lack of romantic or sexual success. The movement is characterized by a violent, misogynistic worldview. The RCMP formally classifies it as an Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremist movement. Participants typically express frustration toward women over their own lack of sexual success and sometimes threaten violence against them. The ideology often uses derogatory slang, such as 'thot' for women and 'Chads' for sexually prolific men. The 2020 Toronto attack was not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of violence linked to this ideology. Key related attacks that influenced Sert include:

• The 2014 Isla Vista killings in California, perpetrated by Elliot Rodger, who explicitly detailed his hatred of women in a manifesto.
• The 2018 Toronto van attack, where Alek Minassian killed 10 people and injured 16, later telling police he was motivated by incel ideology and sought to inspire an 'uprising'.

While Minassian was not charged with terrorism, his case and Rodger's served as direct inspiration for Sert. The decision to pursue terrorism charges in the 2020 case signalled a shift in how Canadian authorities view this form of violent extremism.

Law Enforcement and Prosecutorial Strategy

The handling of this case involved a coordinated effort between local and federal authorities. After the initial criminal investigation by Toronto Police Services uncovered evidence of ideological motivation, they contacted the RCMP's Integrated National Security Enforcement Team in Ontario. The subsequent joint investigation concluded the attack constituted terrorist activity under the Criminal Code. On May 19, 2020, Crown prosecutors presented the updated terrorism charges in court. The RCMP stated publicly that 'terrorism comes in many forms and it's important to note that it is not restricted to any particular group, religion or ideology'. This approach marked a departure from previous cases like that of Alek Minassian, where terrorism charges were not laid despite a similar ideological motivation. The prosecution's strategy relied heavily on digital forensic evidence linking Sert's online activities to his actions, and on establishing that his intent was to intimidate the public or a segment of the public, which is a key component of the legal definition of terrorism in Canada. The federal and provincial Attorneys General consented to commence terrorism proceedings.

Impact, Significance, and Precedents

This case established several important precedents in Canadian legal and security frameworks. It was the first time terrorism charges were laid and a terrorism ruling was made for an act of violence motivated by incel ideology, expanding the understanding of terrorism beyond religious or politically organized groups. The prosecution demonstrated the ability of law enforcement to trace online radicalization to real-world violence and successfully argue its terrorist nature in court. The adult sentence for a perpetrator who was a minor at the time of the crime showed the severity with which the courts viewed the terrorist nature of the acts. The case brought increased public and institutional attention to the threat posed by misogynistic extremism, prompting discussions about prevention and online monitoring. The ruling also has direct implications for sentencing in future similar cases, as a terrorism designation can lead to longer periods of parole ineligibility. The case highlighted the evolving nature of national security threats within Canada, requiring law enforcement to adapt to ideologies propagated through online forums.

Questions about 2020 Toronto machete attack

What was the 2020 Toronto machete attack?

The 2020 Toronto machete attack was a terrorist stabbing that occurred on February 24, 2020, at the Crown Spa, an erotic massage parlour on Dufferin Street in North York, Toronto. A 17-year-old assailant, Oguzhan Sert, entered the spa around noon armed with a 17-inch sword engraved with the words 'thot slayer'. He killed 24-year-old receptionist Ashley Noell Arzaga and seriously injured the spa owner, who ultimately disarmed him. Canadian courts later classified this as the country's first act of terrorism motivated by the misogynistic incel ideology, inspired by previous attackers Alek Minassian and Elliot Rodger.

Who was the perpetrator and what was his sentence?

The perpetrator was Oguzhan Sert, who was 17 years old at the time of the attack. Born in Canada to a Mexican mother and Turkish father, he was radicalized online within incel communities. He pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder in September 2022. On November 28, 2023, he was sentenced as an adult to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for 10 years, plus a concurrent three-year sentence for attempted murder. The court had previously ruled the attack a terrorist act in June 2023.

Who were the victims of the attack?

The attack resulted in one death and one injury. The deceased victim was Ashley Noell Arzaga, a 24-year-old receptionist at the Crown Spa and a mother to a five-year-old daughter. The injured was the spa owner, a woman who fought the assailant and disarmed him, sustaining serious injuries to her arm and finger. The assailant himself was also injured during the struggle.

How is this case connected to other attacks like the Toronto van attack?

This case is directly connected to other misogynistic attacks through shared ideology and inspiration. Forensic evidence showed Sert was inspired by Alek Minassian, who perpetrated the 2018 Toronto van attack, and by Elliot Rodger, who committed the 2014 Isla Vista killings. Both prior attackers were associated with incel ideology. Sert called Minassian an 'inspiration' and had images of him on his computer.

What does 'incel' mean and why is it a security concern?

Incel is short for 'involuntary celibate,' describing an online subculture of predominantly men who blame women and society for their lack of romantic or sexual relationships. It is characterized by deep-seated misogyny and the glorification of violence against women. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police classifies it as an Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremist movement. It is a security concern because adherents can become radicalized online and commit acts of severe violence, which Canadian courts now recognize as potential terrorism.

Why was this attack considered an act of terrorism?

The attack was considered an act of terrorism because it was motivated by an ideological goal to intimidate a segment of the public, specifically women. Investigations determined the attack was inspired by the Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremist movement known as incel. In May 2020, the charges were upgraded to include terrorism under the Criminal Code. On June 6, 2023, Ontario's Superior Court officially ruled the attack a terrorist act, marking the first time in Canada an accused was found to have committed an incel ideologically motivated terrorist act.

Sources and further reading

• 2020 Toronto machete attack (Wikipedia)
• Terrorism Charges Laid in Ideologically Motivated Homicide (publicsafety.gc.ca)
• Canada police say machete killing was 'incel' terror attack (theguardian.com)
• Incel-inspired Toronto massage parlour murder was act of ... (cbc.ca)
• Teenage boy charged in Canada's first 'incel' terror case (bbc.com)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-28.