The RCMP have laid terrorism charges against a 32-year-old Toronto woman who police said uttered death threats while armed with several weapons at a Canadian Tire store before pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group last month.
Rehab Dughmosh was re-arrested by RCMP investigators Tuesday and charged with 14 terrorism-related offences.
The charges include four counts of attempted murder, four counts of assault with a weapon, three counts of carrying a weapon and two counts of carrying a concealed weapon. The weapons listed include a golf club, a knife and a bow.
Another charge Dughmosh faces stems from a situation in April 2016 when she allegedly left Canada in an attempt to enter Syria but only made it as far as Turkey.
READ MORE: ‘I meant to harm those people’: Toronto woman who pledged allegiance to ISIS appears in court
Dughmosh was previously charged by Toronto police on June 6 with assault, uttering threats to cause death, carrying a concealed weapon and two counts each of assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon for committing an offence. Dughmosh now faces a total of 21 charges.
“From the beginning I said I was connected to ISIS,” she told the court Tuesday. “Even when I went to Canadian Tire I said I was from ISIS.”
Toronto police responded to a Canadian Tire store at Scarborough’s Cedarbrae Mall, in the Lawrence Avenue East and Markham Road area, on June 3 at 5:10 p.m.
Police said a woman walked to the paint section of the store with a golf club and began swinging it at employees and a customer while uttering threats.
VIDEO: Woman accused of terror-inspired attack at Scarborough Canadian tire store tries to plead guilty in court. Catherine McDonald reports. (June 26)
A source confirmed to Global News the woman was reportedly wearing a niqab and a bandana adorned with what appeared to be a symbol for IS at the time of the alleged incident.
Police said employees and customers managed to subdue the woman and contact police, when she pulled a “large knife” out from under her clothing.
The woman was restrained and police said the knife was “pried out of her hand” with the help of another store employee. The employee sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at the scene.
Dughmosh reaffirmed her allegiance to the Islamic State in court Tuesday and told Justice Kimberley Crosbie she fully understood the charges against her.
READ MORE: Woman wearing ISIS bandana charged in knife incident at Toronto mall: source
“I don’t want to get legal advice because I don’t believe in your law,” she said through an Arabic translator. “And I’m still supporting ISIS.”
She added that she intended to plead guilty to the charges, but has not yet entered a plea. Her next court appearance is July 21.
“Before she pleads guilty she has to make an informed choice and part of that would involve being provided with some disclosure and being able to look at it and review it,” Crown lawyer Howard Piafsky said outside court.
“Then she can make an informed choice about what her options are.”
VIDEO: Woman pledges allegiance to ISIS after knife incident at Scarborough mall (June 6)
The RCMP confirmed its Greater Toronto Area Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) was investigating the incident last month in partnership with Toronto police and there was “no outstanding risk to public safety.”
Comments