Three women were allegedly assaulted and threatened on an OC Transpo bus earlier this month, instead of just one as police initially said.
In a news release on Aug. 12, the Ottawa Police Service said
a Muslim woman in her late teens was assaulted and had threats directed at her by a white man while riding a bus in Kanata just a day before.
Court documents obtained by the Citizen, however, showed three complainants instead of just one. All three complainants are women.
Police then said they arrested a man in relation to the incident on Aug. 20, but did not initially identify him publicly “due to mental health being a contributing factor.”
Cyrus Amir Souaid, 30, of Ottawa was charged with:
- Three counts of harassment by threatening conduct to other person;
- one count of assault;
- one count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm;
- and one count of inciting hatred in a public place.
He was remanded into custody pending a bail hearing and made a brief court appearance by video on Monday, Aug. 26.
A non-communication order was also issued on Aug. 20 and he is not allowed to contact any of the three complainants.
Souaid’s next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 5.
The case previously received widespread attention online.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said in a statement on Aug. 12 that he was distraught after learning about the incident.
“I strongly condemn this act of violence and hatred; it has no place in our community. Everyone should feel safe while travelling on public transit or anywhere else in Ottawa,” the statement read, which was posted on social media.
“I spoke today to the victim’s family and to leaders in the Muslim community to offer my support and sympathy on behalf of the people of Ottawa. We must all stand together against Islamophobia and hatred in all its forms and continue to do everything possible to make our city safe for everyone.”
He then said on Aug. 20 he was “encouraged” to hear that police had made an arrest in connection with the incident.
“There is absolutely no place for hate, racism, or violence in Ottawa. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us,” that post said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney had previously posted on the social media site X that “hate and violence have no place in our city, or our country.”
