Edmonton City Hall shooting suspect charged with 11 terrorism offenses

Edmonton RCMP announced Monday that they are charging Bezhani Sarvar with 11 terrorism offenses in relation to a January incident at the city hall.

Sarvar, 28, is accused of firing a gun and throwing a lit Molotov cocktail in an incident that occurred at Edmonton City Hall in January.

He is charged with counseling commission of terrorism offense and possession of property for terrorist purposes, the RCMP Federal Policing Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) revealed Monday.

Sarvar is facing 11 terrorism charges in total, according to an Edmonton RCMP news release.

 “These charges are in conjunction with the following charges which also constitute terrorism offences pursuant to sections 2, 83.01(1)(b) and 83.27 of the Criminal Code of Canada,” reads the news release. The charges are:
 

• Intentionally or recklessly cause damage by fire or explosion to property, knowing the property was inhabited contrary to section 433(a) of the Criminal Code;
• Intentionally possess incendiary material while committing an indictable offence contrary to section 436.1 of the Criminal Code;
• Use of a firearm while committing an indictable offence contrary to section 85(1)(a) of the Criminal Code;
• Intentional discharge of a firearm while being reckless as to the life and safety of another person contrary to section 244.2(1)(b) of the Criminal Code;
• Possession of a prohibited device contrary to section 92(2) of the Criminal Code (x2);
• Mischief contrary to section 430(1)(a) of the Criminal Code;
• Carrying a concealed weapon contrary to section 90(1) of the Criminal Code; and,
• Possession of weapon for the purpose of committing an offence contrary to section 88(1) of the Criminal Code.

No one was hurt as a result of the attack. The RCMP are not offering further comment as they say the criminal investigation continues.

Sarvar is in detention at the Calgary Remand Centre and is expected to appear in a bail hearing on Tuesday.

He had worked for the Corps of Commissioners since 2019, a well-known security firm that was once exclusively staffed by retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces but which is now open to anyone meeting the company’s standards. 

During the Jan. 23 incident, a man described as "heavily armed" began firing a long gun inside the city hall and also threw a lit Molotov cocktail from the second floor to the first floor of the building. An unarmed security guard detained the suspect for arrest.