A Canadian man who killed 10 people by ploughing a van into pedestrians in Toronto has pleaded “not criminally responsible” at the start of his trial. Alek Minassian faces 10 charges of murder and 16 of attempted murder. The 28-year-old has been linked to the misogynistic “incel” movement, a mostly online group of young men who blame their lack of sexual activity on women.

He has admitted the 2018 attack, but his lawyers argue he is not mentally fit to be held criminally responsible.

His mother has said he has Asperger’s syndrome – a type of autism that can make it difficult to understand non-verbal social cues. Mr Minassian’s trial is being held by videoconference before a judge only, not a jury, and is expected to last about four weeks. It was supposed to start earlier this year but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The trial is being live-streamed and the accused will appear from prison.(BBC)…[+]