“Throughout Wednesday’s incident, the man on the phone stressed that his actions were not motivated by terrorism and he staunchly did not support it.”
Maybe not, but he’s a terrorist now, and shows by this incident that the RCMP was right to keep him under surveillance.
“‘I took a hostage. Listening to me?,’” by Wendy Gillis, Victoria Gibson, Ainslie Cruickshank, and Alex McKeen, Toronto Star, June 28, 2017 (thanks to S.):
It began with what seemed like any other tip called in to the Toronto Star’s 24-hour news desk.
But the man on the line — his voice steady, at times upset but never once raised — would soon reveal he had made a desperate move.
He was “at a breaking point.” He needed to be listened to. This is what it would take, he said.
Over the phone, a woman’s desperate screams could be heard — “I have family!” she cried.
It was clear this was unlike any other call into the newsroom.
What unfolded beginning around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday was a daylight hostage-taking in an Eglinton West massage parlour tucked into an industrial area strip mall. Heavily armed members of Toronto police’s Emergency Task Force soon descended on the area, patrolling the area with guns and taking position on top of nearby buildings, according to witnesses.
The more than hour-long negotiation — beginning first with a call to the Star, and ending with a Toronto police negotiator — would end shortly after noon with the safe rescue of a woman who was being held inside Studio 9 massage parlour, and the arrest of a burly man dressed all in black.
Michael Storms, 35, was charged Wednesday with forcible confinement and uttering threats.
The man on the phone had told the Star he had converted to Islam when he was 20, and also went by the name Muhammed Islam. The caller said his motivations for the kidnapping were related to years of being surveilled and monitored by the RCMP, and that he was desperate for it to stop.
The RCMP did not return a request for comment to the Star by press time.
In a 2014 article in the National Post, a Toronto man identified as Muhammed Islam was named as one of approximately 90 high-risk travellers whose passports were seized to prevent them from travelling to take part in extremist violence abroad.
In a YouTube video posted in 2014, a man called Michael Storms identifies himself as Muhammed Islam and says he had a difficult childhood, grew up with family that were “very bad people” — “that was a my upbringing, crime and violence, drugs.”
“I was never alone, but I felt lonely,” he says in the video.
Throughout Wednesday’s incident, the man on the phone stressed that his actions were not motivated by terrorism and he staunchly did not support it….
Dum Spiro says
Maybe he did it to impress Jodie Foster….
Canadians will take notice, right?
— Spero
bob says
TO Robert Spencer the Toronto media did not mention anything about a nut case islamic dude.
Wellington says
Islam is guaranteed to create trouble wherever it goes. Lately it’s been going to the West and thus, no surprise here, there’s lots of trouble in the West because of Islam (and with much more trouble to come).
This religion is a burden to all the world. No other religion is. I am sickened by Islam and I am sickened by all those who continue to defend it, whether they be Muslim or non-Muslim.
What Mohammed wrought is one of the greatest mistakes in all of man’s history, perhaps the greatest. Thus Dante placing Mohammed deep in Hell (the eighth circle I believe) is fully deserved. This seventh-century Arab psychopath is arguably the most malevolently influential person in all of history. I am disposed to argue such.
Benedict says
Agree! But don’t forget, that it is the Left/liberal Loons who have prepared the way and invited the trouble in order to have Muslims help them undermine and eradicate the world as we know it and make it ready for an Islamic takeover. As David Horowitz insightful puts it: INSIDE EVERY LIBERAL IS A TOTALITARIAN SCREAMING TO GET OUT. Fascism and communism failed, now Islam is in the vogue
JAR says
Here one may find a gallery of depictions of the 8th circle of hell with Muhammad:
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-Prophet-Mohammed-in-hell-in-Dantes-The-Inferno
Benedict says
Thank you for the link, JAR! –
Also:
“The Schismatics and Sowers of Discord: Mohammed” – William Blake
in the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia (not on display.)
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of the Joe White Bequest: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/26912/
– I wonder when “Mohammed” was last on display, and if he will ever be again? So enjoy the digital record.
Shane says
Either Muhammad was a violent, misogynistic psychopath, or he was in contact with a supernatural entity who was not the angel Gabriel. Most likely, Mo was being contacted by an evil entity, or perhaps Satan himself. Mo said that the angel Gabriel was afraid of a puppy dog, which no rational person can accept. Please watch these excellent videos from David Wood on the topic of Mo’s crazy teachings – Fun Islamic Facts 11: Muhammad’s War of Dogs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0WgK8EMOnE Sahih Muslim 5511
Fun Islamic Facts 20: Stars Are Missiles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGVu7yAlvD0
Anti-jihad says
Proof yet again that Canada has enough problems looking after its own citizens without trying to save the Middle East by importing migrants to its shores.
Benedict says
The inception of the problem is the feminization of world politics: Merkel, May, Macron, Justin Trudeau. The last mentioned is probably the most nauseating politician the world has ever produced, and this cheap host and social chameleon is running Canada.
The prophet Isaiah diagnosed the rotten national condition of Israel in his generation, and female rulers – probably of both sexes – were at the core of the problem:
“Youths oppress my people, WOMEN RULE OVER THEM. My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.”
Glyn Davies says
We have them in Adelaide South Australia and they are taking over…bought up the old strip of shops from my old area 10 mins North in Kilburn…once the traders had respect for their surrounds and towards the locals and always wished each other GDay…its a seedy messy shopping area now with about 12 barbers a heaps of kebab shops and halal supermarkets…they do not like to use garbage bins either and drive like cunts…park any where they like with whats seems to be no consequence…
Jaladhi says
Oh Canada, please bring in more Muslims until you become Canadastan if you haven’t already!
TNinfidel says
Links to the Youtube video mentioned:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic_Wkx6STmc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wEYAdvK5nc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-VmRPK2EcE
Jack Holan says
Mohammad Islam you no longer have to worry. You will be living on the taxes provided by the People of Canada behind bars. You are someone with a death wish. You didn’t want to be monitored and you took the action that guarantees it.
Ric says
One has to believe that the Canadian government and its agencies sweep anything that involves Muslim crime under the proverbial carpet. Unless, needless to say, the Canadian leftist media were to break protocol. The PM, the Boy King, Trudeau makes the likes Neville Chamberlain look like a war monger. Not unlike others of the soon to be extinct Western Democracies Canada is awash in political correctness. Thankfully in the US, the leadership of Trump is savvy to the of Islam’s treacherous and barbaric intent. The northern border is not as secure as it should be, it, too, like Mexico, must be tightly secured. Today, news from many nations is available. One cannot help but notice the recent attack by a Canadian Muslim on a police officer has received minor sound bytes in the Canadian media. I have yet to hear anything from the mouth of the Boy King, Justin Trudeau.
Hermes Liberty says
Will this be the Canada Day where a jihadi plot ‘explodes’ or is foiled? I wonder if there is betting on this? My bet would be…
5% a major one occurs
10% a minor one occurs
20% one is foiled
80% if it occurs it will be a soft target, i.e. not site of celebration, probably not even Ottawa
98% some ‘unrelated’ mini-incident by a Muslim in Canada that doesn’t reach MSN
I think a newsworthy occurrence would actually be good for Canada – better a rude awakening with suitable reaction than death by a thousand cuts.
Vince says
Buddy just hired a lawyer.
Is Caryma Sa’d Marie Henein in the making?
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/25/lawyer-seeks-out-accused-in-hostage-taking.html