While ISIS may be calling the gutless Greektown shooting rampage their proudest victory of 2018, Canadian authorities are not lending it any credence.
With the two-month anniversary of the deadly shooting spree coming up on Sept. 22, Canadian law enforcement agencies reject the possibility of the attack having an Islamic terrorism component.
Faisal Hussain shot and killed Julianna Kozis, 10, and Reese Fallon, 18, and wounded 13 others before taking his own life. A court on Wednesday will release — at the media’s request — details surrounding the search warrant into the killer’s home and digital devices.
But for the third time, murderous ISIS, through propaganda social media arms, keeps pushing the narrative.
This time, as reported by award-winning National Post investigative reporter Adrian Humphreys, ISIS not only claims they were behind the carnage, but also that it was the year’s signature event.
Humphreys reports the 2:47-long video clip entitled “Harvest of the Lone Lions” showcases ISIL leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi giving a speech, praising “attackers in the West” for undertaking the operation that had an “83.2% success rating.”
While law enforcement is quick to push away suggestions ISIS’ claim that Hussain, 29, was a “soldier” who responded with his tactical ambush in their name and style — in black dress with apparent calmness and proficiency — they have not yet revealed a full list of wounded.
However, here’s a list put together by Danforth Truth, to which I have contributed to: Danielle Kane; Julianna’s father, Donny Kozis; Fallon’s friends, Samantha Price, Miranda Li and Ali Demrican; mother and son, Joanne and Jon; a male shot in the leg; waiters’ Jon and Nick; an unknown male, who remains in St. Mike’s fighting for his life with a bullet lodged in his liver; and two other women who were struck during the seven-minute nightmare.
So far we only know five full names, leaving the identities of the eight other wounded a mystery.
Meanwhile, the ISIS claim, as Humphreys points out, provides the wrong date and casualty count of the attack. But Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale’s office says the whole ISIS premise is wrong.
“The mass shootings in the Danforth were a senseless tragedy and another tragic reminder that communities across Canada are experiencing the devastating effects of gun violence and gang activity far too frequently,” said Scott Bardsley, senior advisor for communications to Goodale.
Adding that “federal authorities continue to provide assistance to the Toronto Police who are investigating the incident” Bardsley said “as police have indicated, they have no indication that this shooting had any nexus to national security or to any organization such as Daesh.”
Mayor John Tory’s office, through spokesman Don Peat, said “at this time, we won’t comment or speculate on the motivation for this cowardly attack on innocent people.”
Tory’s office said the mayor “has total confidence in the ability of our police to determine what happened in this tragedy.”
Mark Pugash, spokesman for Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders, said with a full investigation underway, including one by the SIU, there’s no comment.
Toronto Police have indicated they will send their completed investigation to the Toronto Police Services Board, which is exactly the kind of news the families directly affected are expecting.
There’s no question that a pro-ISIS website is far from a credible source. But until a proper explanation can be presented, all questions of what was behind July’s murderous attack on the Danforth are still on the table.
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