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Transit police arrest man for alleged Unprovoked Hate Crime on Canada Line
12-06-2017
New Westminster – A 46 year old man was arrested by Metro Vancouver Transit Police on Monday night after an alleged unprovoked hate motivated attack on a woman on the Canada Line.
At approximately 9:30 pm, December 4, 2017, a young woman boarded a Canada Line Train at Waterfront Station and sat down. A man seated nearby immediately stood up and allegedly began yelling at her as he walked towards her. He spoke in Arabic and allegedly hurled obscenities at her, using extremely offensive language. He allegedly told her to go back to her country and that he would kill all Muslims, as he grabbed her head, pulled it into his crotch and attempted to pull off her hijab. As he allegedly slapped her face, another passenger stood up and placed himself between the woman and the suspect, pushing him away. The suspect left the train at Vancouver City Centre Station.
The woman called the police and got off the train at Yaletown Station, accompanied by her protector. When Transit Police officers met her there a short time later, the woman was extremely traumatized and had trouble breathing. Paramedics were called to render assistance.
The woman advised that she had been able to take several pictures of her attacker which were forwarded to the Canada Line Operation Management Centre (OMC). OMC staff were able to track, by video, the suspect boarding another outbound train, and spotted him disembarking at Vancouver International Airport.
Transit Police officers, on foot patrol in the area, moved into the airport, where they were met by the RCMP, and the suspect was quickly spotted in a convenience store. He was taken into custody, by Transit Police, without incident.
Arrested and charged with one count of Threatening to Cause Death or Bodily Harm and one count of Assault was Pierre BELZAN, 46 years of age, no fixed address. Transit Police have also recommended a charge of Sexual Assault, which is pending. BELZAN has no criminal record but is well known to police. He was remanded in custody and will be making his next court appearance later today. Transit Police investigators have liaised with the BC Hate Crimes Unit as the investigation has unfolded.
Transit Police has discussed a safety plan with the young woman for her future travel on transit and victim assistance services have been offered.
We would like to thank and commend the gentleman who intervened in this incident and came to the aid of the woman. He put his own safety at risk and stopped what might have become an even more serious situation.
We also commend the employees of the Canada Line OMC for their excellent work in tracking the suspect and keeping Transit Police apprised each step of the way. Thank you to the Vancouver Airport RCMP for their assistance.
But Fadel, in her Facebook post, pointed out that only one person on the train intervened.
"Out of a whole train filled with people. One person got up and did something and said something," she wrote.
"It saddens my heart that so many people watched as I was being attacked and assaulted simply because of a man who knew nothing of me but chose to judge me based on the hijab I wear."
Thank you to Jake Taylor for being the one person, once a stranger now a dear friend who stood up for me no matter for my appearance.
Noor Fadel thanked the transit police stating on her Facebook page “A special thank you to the transit police who helped make me feel safe and secured dedicating all their efforts into helping find this man and supporting myself and my family
This is a win not only for myself but for all of us. Hate crimes are not only towards Muslim
We must speak up and bring justice to those who have had to stay silent or have had to face such experience
Justice will be made and I hope we can all take this as a wake up call that yes hate crimes happen everywhere and for us to stand up and support one another.
Thank you again all.”
See Something, Say Something!
Text BC transit discreetly at 87 77 77 or call us at 604-515-8300.
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