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The Guardian

A heroic Canadian police officer hailed for the restraint and professionalism he showed in arresting the suspect in the Toronto van attack without firing a single shot has been identified as Constable Ken Lam, son of a former Hong Kong police officer.
“I’m happy he was safe. I’m proud of him, to do a good job. Well done,” said Hong Kong immigrant father David Lam, in an interview with Canadian television network Global.
On Monday afternoon, a white van ploughed into pedestrians along one of Toronto’s busiest streets, killing 10 people and injuring more than a dozen others in what one official described as “pure carnage”.
The ‘incel rebellion’: did sexual frustration trigger Toronto rampage?
Soon after, the alleged driver of the van was arrested by a lone police officer, since identified as Ken Lam, in a confrontation lasting less than a minute and caught on video by bystanders. “Get down,” the officer shouts repeatedly.

The father of Ken Lam — the officer who took down the van attack suspect without firing a shot — says he is proud of his son. @globalnewsto #TorontoAttacks pic.twitter.com/9amvKhPipj
— Kamil Karamali (@KamilKaramali) April 24, 2018

“Kill me,” the man tells the police officer. “I have a gun in my pocket.”
Lam’s voice remains calm as he again orders the man to get down, warning that he will shoot if the man does not cooperate. 
“Shoot me in the head,” the suspect replies.
The officer then begins advancing towards the suspect. The suspect steps backwards, dropping what he was holding and raising his hands in the air. The officer proceeded to single-handedly arrest the suspect.


He was more concerned about the victims. He was devastated when we kept hearing the casualties going up, as we all were. It was a horrific scene
Mike McCormack, of the Toronto Police Association
Video of the dramatic confrontation between the suspect and Lam was hailed on social media.
Many said he deserved a medal. A columnist for Maclean’s magazine contrasted the officer’s calm demeanour with the chaos and horror that had unfolded minutes earlier. 
“I am paid to explain things and sound confident doing so,” he wrote. “But I honestly don’t know what to make of this terrifying, remarkable moment.”


David Lam, who now runs a restaurant in Markham, Ontario, told Global: “My son called me [and] told me, ‘Daddy, everything is fine. I arrested the suspect … I didn’t even fire any shots’.
“I said, ‘You did a good job.’”
Mike McCormack, the president of the Toronto Police Association, said Lam, who has been with the force for more than seven years, would have been justified if he decided to fire at the suspect. 
“He was constantly assessing, constantly watching what was going on and determined he could handle it the way that he did,” he said. “People are right: this guy is a hero.”


He had spoken to the officer, who was left shaken. “It’s stressful enough when you’re confronting somebody who is trying to get you to kill them,” McCormack said. “And then you add the layer that this person that you’re dealing with has just murdered 10 innocent people, injured another 15. It really is sinking in with him right now.”
Mark Saunders, the city’s police chief, credited the force’s high calibre of training. 
“The officer did a fantastic job with respect to utilising his ability of understanding the circumstance and environment and having a peaceful resolution at the end of the day,” he said.
The arrest came as police forces across North America – including in Toronto – have been criticised for using excessive force to subdue mentally ill or unarmed suspects.
Police identified Alek Minassian, a 25-year-old from the nearby town of Richmond Hill, as the man who had been arrested. He appeared in court on Tuesday, charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder.
As commendations poured in from the around the world, Lam’s focus was on the many residents affected by the attack. “He was more concerned about the victims. He was devastated when we kept hearing the casualties going up, as we all were. It was a horrific scene,” McCormack said. 
“He said ‘Mike, I followed my experience and my training. OK I made this arrest, which is great, but I’m just doing my job’.”
Additional reporting by Ian Young


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Canada

Former Hong Kong police officer tells of pride in son Ken Lam, the hero who captured suspect in Toronto van rampage that killed 10

Toronto Police Constable Ken Lam with his father, former Hong Kong police officer David Lam. Photo: Omni TV

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In this courtroom sketch, Duty counsel Georgia Koulis, from left, Alek Minassian, Justice of the Peace Stephen Waisberg and Crown prosecutor Joe Callaghan appear in court in Toronto on Tuesday. Artwork: AP

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 24: Hazmat workers work around the scene at Yonge St. on April 24, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. A suspect identified as Alek Minassian, 25, is in custody after a driver in a white rental van collided with multiple pedestrians killing ten and injuring at least 15. Cole Burston/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Police vehicles are parked in front of the home of Alek Minassian, a day after multiple people were struck along a major intersection northern Toronto, Ontario, Canada, April 24, 2018. REUTERS/Saul Porto

‘We cannot live in fear’: Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offers comfort as motive for deadly Toronto van attack remains a mystery

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo: Reuters

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 23: A woman wipes away tears as she signs a memorial card for the victims near the scene on Yonge St. at Finch Ave., after a van plowed into pedestrians on April 23, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. A suspect identified as Alek Minassian, 25, is in custody after a driver in a white rental van collided with multiple pedestrians killing nine and injuring at least 16. Cole Burston/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

TOPSHOT - Police officers stand near one of the bodies on the street after a truck drove up on the curb and hit several pedestrians in Toronto, Ontario on April 23, 2018. At least nine people were killed and 16 others wounded Monday when a driver rammed his rental van into a crowd of pedestrians in downtown Toronto, police said, without revealing a possible motive."This is going to be a complex investigation," deputy police chief Peter Yuen told reporters. "We have one person in custody and the investigation is ongoing.""We can confirm for you tonight right now we have nine people that are dead, 16 injured," Yuen said. / AFP PHOTO / Lars Hagberg

News

Hong Kong

World

Law and Crime

United States & Canada

‘My son called me and told me, ‘Daddy, everything is fine, I arrested the suspect … I didn’t even fire any shots’


The Canadian policeman remained calm and single-handedly made the dramatic arrest after a vehicle ploughed into pedestrians on a busy street


Crime

Former Hong Kong police officer tells of pride in son Ken Lam, the hero who captured suspect in Toronto van rampage that killed 10

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}‘My son called me and told me, ‘Daddy, everything is fine, I arrested the suspect … I didn’t even fire any shots’

‘My son called me and told me, ‘Daddy, everything is fine, I arrested the suspect … I didn’t even fire any shots’