Langara College arson suspect facing additional charges in alleged assault, theft

Apr 6 2019, 1:14 am

After a 23-year-old was charged in connection with a series of suspicious fires that triggered the evacuation of the entire Langara College campus in Vancouver earlier this week, police announced on Friday that more charges have now been secured against the suspect, Nasradin Abdusamad Ali.

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Police said the the new charges stem from alleged incidents in the weeks leading up to the fires on April 1.

Ali was charged on April 2 with one count of arson in relation to inhabited property, and one count of possession of incendiary material after he allegedly entered the Langara College with improvised incendiary devices.

Police said it appeared that at least two devices were detonated, causing fires, before the suspect fled the area. He was arrested later that day as a result of a VPD investigation.

Prior to this week’s incident however, Ali allegedly got into a physical altercation with another student on the Langara College campus on March 7. This assault was not reported to the VPD until after the April 1 incident.

Then, on March 26, police said Ali allegedly robbed another Langara student near a bus stop on East 53rd Avenue and Fleming Street. The robbery was reported to the VPD on the day of the incident and detectives have since been able to collect enough evidence for Crown to lay a robbery charge against Ali.

As a result of these incidents, Ali is now facing one charge of robbery and one charge of assault.

During the April 1 incident, Ali entered the college with improvised incendiary devices — and two were detonated, causing fires.

The blazes triggered a massive fire and police response, with armed officers spotted around the exterior of the campus.

Classes were cancelled for the remainder of the day, and on Tuesday the college administration cancelled classes on the West 49th Avenue campus, as well.

Crown has approved one count of arson in relation to inhabited property, and one count of possession of incendiary material, against Ali, in connection with the incident.

He was arrested in Surrey by the Metro Vancouver Transit Police around 4 pm, hours after the entire college campus was evacuated.  He remains in custody.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the VPD’s Major Crime Section at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Eric ZimmerEric Zimmer

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