Latest news with #swordattack
CTV News
14 hours ago
- CTV News
Brandon high school sword attack was racially motivated: police chief
The teenage victim of a sword attack in a Manitoba high school is speaking out. Danton Unger has his story. The suspect in a sword attack at a Brandon, Man., high school was targeting people based on race, according to the city's police chief. In a statement, Brandon Police Chief Tyler Bates said the investigating is 'complex and ongoing.' However, officers have now found a 'significant amount' of evidence that indicates the suspect's political and racial ideologies were motivators of the crime. 'The offender planned the attack and the perpetration of violence against targets chosen specifically based on race — targeting people of colour and immigrants,' he said. 'It was a deliberate, senseless, targeted act of hate. This is disturbing and no one should ever fear for their safety because of the colour of their skin, and no child should be made to feel unsafe in a place of learning.' Bates went on to say that he has 'no doubt' that the combination of the school division's emergency planning, the relationship between students and school liaison officers, and the speedy response of police helped to prevent mass casualties. 'It is clear that there remains work to do to further enhance and improve safety within Brandon schools and we will continue working with our partners in education, mental health, and community organizations to ensure that our schools remain safe and inclusive spaces for everyone,' he said. Bates' remarks come after a 16-year-old student at Neelin High School was arrested and charged last week with attempted murder after he allegedly brought a sword to school and attacked another student. The charges have not been proven in court. The victim, Chinonso Onuke, sustained several injuries, including wounds to his chest, abdomen, and leg. - With files from CTV's Devon McKendrick.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Accused in Brandon sword attack ordered to have mental health assessment
The exterior of Neelin High School in Brandon, Man., pictured on June 11, 2025. (Joseph Bernacki/CTV News) The student accused in a Brandon high school sword attack has been ordered to undergo a mental health assessment. A 16-year-old student at Neelin High School in Brandon was arrested and charged last week after he allegedly brought a sword to school and attacked a fellow student. The victim, Chinonso Onuke, suffered multiple injuries, including wounds to his chest, abdomen and leg, which required emergency surgery. The accused's lawyer, Robert Harrison, confirmed to CTV News Wednesday that a provincial judge in Brandon ordered a forensic assessment for his client on Tuesday to learn if he is suffering from any psychological or mental health disorders. The assessment is to be done in 30 days. Meanwhile, Brandon police said it is still working with the Crown to determine if any additional charges will be laid. 'Significant material disclosure has been made to the Crown Attorney's Office, inclusive of statements and digital evidence, a thorough analysis by the Crown's Office of the investigative materials is underway,' Brandon Police Chief Tyler Bates said in an email to CTV News. 'The collective assessment of the evidence disclosed to the Crown Attorney's Office will dictate whether any additional charges are warranted. We continue to work in close collaboration with the Crown to assess all available evidence.' Police confirmed the teenager is still in custody. He has been charged with attempted murder, uttering threats, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and disguise with intent. The charges haven't been tested in court.
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Sword attack victim at Brandon high school back home recovering
Chinonso Onuke at home recovering after being attack by someone with a sword at a Brandon High School. Uploaded June 17, 2025. (Alex Karpa/CTV News) The victim of a sword attack at a Brandon high school said the incident didn't feel real. Chinonso Onuke, a Grade 10 student at Neelin High School, is at home recovering a week after being stabbed multiple times by a fellow student at the school. 'In the moment, I was not thinking at all,' Chinonso told CTV News Tuesday. He remembers the lunch break was just about to end and he was doing one more lap in the hallways when he saw someone dressed in all black, including wearing a 'witch doctor mask.' He said he thought it was a weird attire to wear at school and then asked the person's name before turning around and walking away. 'I'm walking away, I turn back. Something makes me turn back…and he's pulling out a sword,' he said. 'Before I can even think, he lunges at me, gets the first one in my abdomen.' Chinonso remembers falling to the floor and being slashed again in the leg, then stabbed in the shoulder and chest. 'He was about to go for my core, like my heart, stomach area. So I just end up grabbing the blade with my hands, then he tries to pull it, I don't let go. I pushed it away and I just booked it to the office.' Chinonso Onuke Chinonso Onuke suffered multiple wounds after being attack by someone with a sword at his Brandon high school. Uploaded June 17, 2025. (Alex Karpa/CTV News) Brandon police said last week that students alerted the school's resource officer and police arrived a short time later. A 16-year-old student was found with a sword. He was Tasered by police and arrested. The incident caused the school to be locked down. The suspect has been charged with attempted murder, uttering threats, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and disguise with intent. The charges haven't been tested in court. Chinonso has wounds on his shoulder, chest, abdomen, upper thigh, and forearm and seven of his fingers were deeply cut. He was rushed to hospital. 'The whole thing happened so fast, you would think it's a dream. You wouldn't think it's real. So I was just there, kind of wondering, 'Yo, did this actually happen, or am I just dreaming?'' Chinonso's mom, Helen Onuke, remembers getting a call and being told there was an accident. She got to the hospital and was told her son was in trauma. 'I said to myself, 'Helen, breathe. Breathe and brace yourself.' Then I got in there and there was like 20 nurses and doctors and he's like, just all blood,' Helen said. Chinonso Onuke Chinonso Onuke in hospital after the attack. June 11, 2025. (Helen Onuke) Chinonso was taken to Winnipeg the next day for an emergency surgery to try and repair all the tendon and nerve damage. Helen said she was scared to hear what had happened and has to try to prevent herself from thinking about what else could have happened. 'Because, you're thinking, 'What if he did not turn around?' With such a sword, he could have just cut his head off. Can you imagine going to school and that happens? No. You send your kids to school and you're thinking they are safe. It's supposed to be the safest place.' She said she wants officials with the school and provincial government to come together and work on a plan to ensure the school will be safe for all students moving forward. Chinonso went back to the school three days after the attack to visit. He said he was a little in shock at first, but that quickly disappeared as he realized the school isn't a bad place, rather, something bad happened there. 'You just got to understand to separate the action of what happened from the area.' - With files from CTV's Alex Karpa and Katherine Dow
Telegraph
13-06-2025
- Telegraph
Alleged sword killer ‘tried to eat own cat'
An alleged sword attacker has told a court how he tried to cook and eat his cat before killing a schoolboy. Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, skinned and deboned his pet cat Wizard before allegedly launching a 20-minute spree of violence in Hainault, east London, while under the influence of cannabis, prosecutors say. He is accused of murdering 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, mowing down pedestrian Donato Iwule with a van and attacking two police officers and a couple - Sindy Arias and Henry De Los Rios Polania - in their home on April 30 last year. Giving evidence at the Old Bailey on Friday, Monzo wept as he said he did not intend to harm anybody when asked about why he bought swords. He told jurors that in the days before the alleged attacks he 'received guidance and communication' in his head that the cat 'was being used against me by negative forces'. He said he took the animal to a park to get rid of it, but it had returned to his Newham flat on the morning of the alleged rampage, and that he then strangled it despite not wanting to. Asked why it was skinned, he told jurors: 'After I strangled him he (the communication) was telling me that the cat had taken energy from me and to replenish and get the energy back, I had to eat the cat.' Monzo said he tried to cook it, but became 'panicked and rushed', believing an event 'like an Armageddon' was happening. The defendant told jurors: 'I didn't have time to eat the cat.' He then put it in the back of his Ford Transit and picked up swords, a ball bearing gun and a backpack containing clothes. He said: 'I had this idea that the world was collapsing… something big was happening. I didn't know exactly what. I had the idea that I wasn't coming back.' Monzo said he then set off towards his parents' house. Prosecutors say he allegedly used his van to knock Mr Iwule into a garden, then slashed him in the neck with a samurai sword before his victim managed to escape. Asked why he changed direction, Monzo said: 'That is something I have thought about a lot, every day. Why just a block away from my parents house? A block later I would have arrived at their house.' Prosecutors allege he then virtually decapitated Daniel, who was wearing headphones on his way to school. Pc Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield allegedly chased the defendant through alleyways before he struck her three times with the sword which had a 60cm blade, prosecutors say. Monzo then allegedly entered a property and attacked a couple who were sleeping in an upstairs bedroom with their young daughter nearby. It is also claimed he struck Insp Moloy Campbell once with the sword before he was arrested. The defendant said he had no memory of what happened until he was Tasered. He told jurors: 'My memory after I left my home… gradually it becomes very vague and abstract… not very clear.' Monzo denies Daniel's murder and the attempted murders of Mr Iwule, Sindy Arias, Henry De Los Rios Polania and Ms Mechem-Whitfield, as well as wounding Insp Campbell with intent. He also denies aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article relating to a kitchen knife. Monzo admits having two swords. The trial continues.
The Independent
13-06-2025
- The Independent
Sword attack accused ‘had no time to eat cat' and recalls nothing of killing
An alleged sword attacker has told a court he tried to cook and eat his cat, believing it was 'against' him, but claimed to have no memory of killing a schoolboy during a rampage in London. Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, skinned and deboned his pet cat Wizard before launching a 20-minute spree of violence in Hainault, east London, while allegedly under the influence of cannabis, prosecutors say. He is accused of murdering 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, mowing down pedestrian Donato Iwule with a van and attacking two police officers and a couple in their home on April 30 last year. Monzo wept while giving evidence at the Old Bailey on Friday as he said he did not intend to harm anybody when asked about why he bought the swords. He told jurors that in the days before the attacks he 'received guidance and communication' in his head that the cat 'was being used against me by negative forces' and he took it to a park to get rid of it. He said the cat returned to his Newham flat on the morning of the rampage, and that he strangled it despite claiming he did not want to. Asked why it was skinned, he told jurors: 'After I strangled him he (the communication) was telling me that the cat had taken energy from me and to replenish and get the energy back I had to eat the cat.' Monzo said he tried to cook it, but became 'panicked and rushed', believing an event 'like an Armageddon' was happening. The defendant told jurors 'I didn't have time to eat the cat', so he put it in the back of his Ford Transit and picked up swords, a ball bearing gun and a backpack containing clothes. He said: 'I had this idea that the world was collapsing… something big was happening, I didn't know exactly what, I had the idea that I wasn't coming back.' Monzo said he then set off towards his parents' house. He used his van to knock Mr Iwule into a garden, then slashed him in the neck with a samurai sword before the victim escaped, jurors heard. Asked why he changed direction, the defendant said: 'That is something I have thought about a lot, every day, why just a block away from my parents house? A block later I would have arrived at their house.' He then virtually decapitated Daniel, who was wearing headphones on his way to school, the court heard. Pc Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield chased the defendant through alleyways before he struck her three times with the sword which had a 60cm blade, prosecutors say. Monzo then allegedly entered a property and attacked a couple who were sleeping in an upstairs bedroom with their young daughter nearby. He also struck Inspector Moloy Campbell once with the sword before he was arrested. However, the defendant said he had no memory of what happened until he was tasered. He told jurors: 'My memory after I left my home… gradually it becomes very vague and abstract… not very clear.' Monzo said he was smoking cannabis 'three or four times a week' before the attack, but denied doing so on the day. Jurors heard that he told an expert that cannabis was a 'major contributor' to the rampage, but he played down its effects on Friday. He told jurors he did not think it 'guided' the killing. Monzo had earlier spoken of taking psychedelics and drinking his own urine years before amid an interest in spirituality. Around 2017, he began following YouTube spiritual guru Sadhguru, which led to a year-long stay in India, jurors heard. Monzo said he was taught at a retreat to detach from family and friends. During a weekend trip, he took ayahuasca — a hallucinogenic brew traditionally used in South America. He returned to the UK 'looking skinnier', before travelling to a remote part of Brazil to consume more ayahuasca, the court heard. Monzo also said he took ayahuasca twice in the UK, describing it as having stronger effects during 'ceremonies'. He later travelled again to Brazil and India, and also attended breatharian festivals in Italy and Denmark, which promote living without food, jurors were told. On his return to the UK, Monzo said he argued with family members because he was 'not very clean'. The defendant told the court he began drinking his own urine for 'cleaning' purposes. He added: 'I would use it to shower, on the hair, even using it on the nose.' After the attack, he likened events to Hollywood film The Hunger Games and claimed to have an alternative personality of a 'professional assassin', the court heard. Monzo denies Daniel's murder and the attempted murders of Mr Iwule, Sindy Arias, Henry De Los Rios Polania and Ms Mechem-Whitfield, as well as wounding Mr Campbell with intent. He also denies aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article relating to a kitchen knife. Monzo admits having two swords. The trial continues.
