A man who says he was part of the "incel" movement has admitted planning and carrying out a van attack that killed 10 people in Toronto in April 2018.

Alek Minassian is charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 of attempted murder over the attack on 23 April 2018.

After his arrest he told police he was a virgin and had acted in "retribution" at being repeatedly rejected by women.

Image: Alek Minassian carried out the attack in Canada's biggest city

He said he identified with the "incel" movement - meaning involuntarily celibate - an online subculture where men bemoan their lack of sexual success and vent misogynistic views.

Eight women and two men, aged from 22 to 94, died in Canada's biggest city when he drove his van onto the pavement.


His trial is due to start in April, and on Thursday prosecutor John Rinaldi read out an agreed statement of facts between the prosecution and defence.

"While driving the van in the said area, (Minassian) drove his van into, or otherwise struck, at least 26 people, 10 of those people were killed and 16 injured to various degrees," he said.

Minassian, 27, is in a Toronto court for a pre-trial motion where his lawyer is fighting over the admissibility of a statement he gave police shortly after his arrest.

Image: Minassian's house in Richmond Hill, Ontario, pictured the day after his arrest in 2018

When asked if he had any illnesses, he replied: "Yes. I am a murdering piece of s***."

The defence admits that he made that statement but claims his constitutional right to remain silent was violated.

Minassian later said in a lengthy police interview that as an incel he saw himself on the bottom level of society and wanted to start an "uprising" to change his status.

He told police it was a day of "retribution" and that he had "accomplished" his mission.

He also claimed to have had contact with another "incel", Elliot Rodger, who killed six people and himself in California in 2014

Minassian conceded the details of that interview in court, and it will now form part of the agreed facts.

The judge said whether Minassian is guilty of the charges or not would depend on his state of mind at the time of the attack, not whether he did it.