Family members of Toronto van attack victims react after perpetrator sentenced to life in prison

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Victims' families reacted to the sentencing of Toronto van attack perpetrator Alek Minassian on Monday.

He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Hearings for the sentencing took place Monday with victim impact statements from those affected by the tragedy being read aloud in court.

Eight women and two men died on April 23, 2018 when the 25-year-old Minassian deliberately drove a rented van down a busy sidewalk.

Another woman, Amaresh Tesfamariam, died more than three years later from injuries suffered that day.

Omar Najjar, the son of a man killed in attack, said that he was happy the perpetrator would be behind bars after he was sentenced to life in prison. However, Najjar said he wished the man had not received parole, but respected the law of the land following a Supreme Court ruling. He also asked media that the perpetrator's name is no longer used, saying it causes "agony" for his family and likely other victims' families.

Elwood Delaney, who lost his grandmother, spoke after the perpetrator was sentenced to life in prison without parole for 25 years, saying the man did not look up during victim impact statements and that it was "cowardly," adding "I hope he rots."

Luwan Ogbaselassie, the niece Tesfamariam, said the past four years since the tragedy have been "torture," and were looking forward to "this being behind us." Tesfamariam died in November 2021. She also spoke about support her aunt received, including the "Toronto Strong" movement that was spurred by the tragedy, as well as those in hospital who tended to Tesfamariam until she died.