The driver of a van that ploughed into people on a busy downtown Toronto street has appeared in court where he was charged with 10 counts of murder and 13 counts of attempted murder.

Alek Minassian of Richmond Hill, Ontario, appeared in the courtroom in Toronto wearing a jumpsuit, handcuffs, and said little except to confirm that he understood the proceedings.

Police are still not clear what led the 25-year-old to allegedly drive a rented Ryder van down the busy thoroughfare of Yonge Street. Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, said: “Obviously all Canadians continue and will continue to have questions about why this happened, what could possibly be the motive behind it.”

The suspect fled the scene in the vehicle but was caught by police on a nearby street less than 30 minutes after the incident. Mr Minassian allegedly drove “half mile to one mile” down the street, district chief for Toronto Fire Stephen Powell told CNN. Mobile footage captured him shouting at police to “kill me”.

Toronto police chief Mark Saunders said the act “looks intentional”, but stopped short of officially referring to it as an attack or an act of terrorism. Canadian public safety minister Ralph Goodale confirmed there did not appear to be any “national security connection”. Police are still investigating whether Mr Minassian had acted with someone else.

Mr Minassian had a scant online presence; his LinkedIn profile showed that he may have been training to be a software developer. The National Post reported someone with his name had registered a mobile app for “online parking” in the Google Play app store.

He also listed himself as a student at Seneca College in Toronto from 2011 to 2018. The school did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation or comment on whether Mr Minassian had graduated.

Justin Trudeau gives official comments after van hits pedestrians in Toronto

A former high school classmate wrote in a Facebook post: “He was mentally unstable back then. He was known to meow like a cat and try to bite people, this is one sad and confusing story”. Though, Alexander Alexandrovitch said his former classmate was “never intentionally violent”.

Another Facebook clue for investigators came when they found a page believed to be Mr Minassian’s. The user posted on the day of the incident: “Private (Recruit) Minassian Infantry 00010, wishing to speak to Sgt 4chan please. C23249161. The Incel Rebellion has already begun! We will overthow all the Chads and Stacys! All hail the Supreme Gentleman Elliot Rodger!” Police say it could have been a reference to a 2014 attack using a vehicle on the campus of the University of California Santa Barbara. Rodger shot and killed six people while injuring 14 before turning the gun on himself.

Police said Rodger’s motivation was probably his involvement in the men’s activist movement, comprised of people who think women do not actually want gender equality but have been brainwashed by society and propaganda. Some of the activists believed women should be punished for their success or for rejecting them, as had happened with Rodger.

The social media giant has since deleted the account in question.

Toronto van attack: in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Toronto van attack: in pictures Toronto van attack: in pictures The front end damage of the van that a driver used to hit several pedestrians in Toronto. AFP/Getty Toronto van attack: in pictures A lone police officer confronts the man suspected of driving the rented white van. rayy0889/Twitter/Screengrab Toronto van attack: in pictures Alek Minassian, 25, of Richmond Hill, a suburb north of Toronto, was arrested after he drove the vehicle into pedestrians. LinkedIn Toronto van attack: in pictures 10 people were killed in the city on Monday, 23rd April. AP Toronto van attack: in pictures Farzad Salehi consoles his wife, Mehrsa Marjani, who was at a nearby cafe and witnessed the aftermath. AP Toronto van attack: in pictures Emergency services closed Yonge Street after the van mounted a pavement crashing into a crowd of pedestrians. AP Toronto van attack: in pictures A covered body lies on Yonge Street. EPA Toronto van attack: in pictures Police inspect the van involved with the collision. Getty Toronto van attack: in pictures People sign a memorial for the victims. AP Toronto van attack: in pictures Police officers stand by a covered body. Aaron Vincent Elkaim/The Canadian Press via AP

Mr Saunders said “there’s nothing that indicates” Mr Minassian had a gun during the incident he is suspected of carrying out. Mobile video has surfaced of an arrest during which it appeared the person arrested may have had a weapon, however.

The man appeared to be pointing an object at an officer, who has his own weapon drawn on the man. The officer did not fire a single shot despite the tense back and forth between he and the man, who claimed to have a gun “in his pocket”. He later managed to arrest the man without further incident.

Mr Minassian is reportedly of Armenian descent. The Armenian Community Centre of Toronto issued a statement saying it and “all of its constituent organisations are deeply saddened and disturbed by the senseless deaths and injuries”. It is unclear at this time if the suspect was associated with the organisation.

“We unequivocally condemn this and all acts of violence. We commend the bravery and dedication of our first responders who, despite being faced with an unprecedented tragedy, saved lives with their heroic actions and rapid response,” the group said in a statement.

“As the investigation continues, we stand united with our neighbours in the City of Toronto and across Ontario and Canada in mourning the lives taken. We pray that God will heal the survivors and illuminate the souls of the victims and bring peace to their families.”