A newly released video shows a man who allegedly used a van to kill 10 pedestrians in Toronto telling police he belonged to an online community of sexually frustrated men — known as "incels" — who plot attacks against people who have sex.

Key points: Alek Minassian faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder

He said his actions were designed for 'incels' and was inspired by a similar attack

His trial is due to begin in 2020

Alek Minassian faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder in connection with the April 23, 2018 attack.

It drew attention to an online world of sexual loneliness, rage and misogyny after the suspect invoked an uprising by "involuntary celibates" and said he had contact with a California killer who seethed at women for rejecting him.

Mr Minassian, 26, is accused of driving a rental van into crowds of pedestrians in a busy north Toronto neighbourhood.

Eight women and two men ranging in age from 22 to 94 died.

Mr Minassian has yet to enter a plea. His trial begins in February, but a publication ban on his interrogation by police was lifted Friday.

Canadian police said the interview took place hours after the attack.

'Several other guys feel the same way'

Mr Minassian allegedly drove this pictured van through a busy crowd in north Toronto. ( AP: Vincent Elkaim/ The Canadian Press )

"I feel like I accomplished my mission," Mr Minassian said when asked by the detective how he feels about the death of 10 people.

He told police he never had a girlfriend and was a virgin, and acknowledged he used the van as a weapon and said he wanted to inspire more attacks.

"I know of several other guys over the internet who feel the same way," he said, adding they are "too cowardly to act on their anger".

Mr Minassian calls himself an incel, short for involuntary celibate.

The incel movement is an online subculture linked to the deadly attack in Toronto as well as attacks in California and Florida.

It promotes the idea that men are entitled to have sex with women.

Over time, incel has become a buzzword for certain men infuriated at being rejected by women and prone to float ideas for violent payback, according to sociologists and others who study them.

Like-minded people in internet forums sometimes use "Chad" and "Stacy" as dismissive slang for men and women with more active sex lives.

'Incel' frustrations broadcast on 4chan

Mr Minassian was inspired by 'incel' discourse posted on the online discussion board 4chan. ( Reuters: Samantha Sais )

Mr Minassian said he discussed his sexual frustrations on the website 4chan, a platform that is known for hosting extreme views and hate speech.

He disclosed he was in contact with Elliot Rodger, a community college student who killed six people and wounded 13 in shooting and stabbing attacks in 2014 near the University of California, Santa Barbara, before committing suicide.

Rodger had railed in a manifesto and online videos about women who shunned him and called for an incel "overthrow" of what he saw as feminist domination.

Mr Minassian said he was "radicalised" around the time of the Rodger attack.

"I felt it was time to take action and not just sit on the sidelines and just fester in my own sadness," he said.

The street pictured shows the aftermath Mr Minassian's alleged attack that killed 10 people. ( AP: Nathan Denette/ Canadian Press )

He also said in 2013 he went to a Halloween party and was laughed at by women with whom he tried to socialise, expressing frustration at his perception that women were attracted to men possessing hyper-masculinity.

"I was angry that they would give their love and affection to obnoxious brutes," he said.

Mr Minassian said he wished he had an intimate relationship but acknowledged he only asked someone out once in 2012.

"I did ask a girl out once, but she rejected me," he said. "I felt crushed at that point."

His lawyer, Boris Bytensky, declined to comment ahead of the tape's release.

Justice Anne Molloy, who will oversee the trial next year, said in August the police statement will be one of the prosecution's most important pieces of evidence at trial.

Ms Malloy said Mr Minassian's state of mind will be relevant.

ABC/AP

