'CLIMATE ACTIVIST' citing 'Allah' charged with TERRORISM in B.C. airplane hijacking
Accused Shaheer Cassim allegedly referred to himself as a "messenger of Allah" and "the messiah sent to save humanity from climate change"
U.S. fighter jets were called to Vancouver International Airport after a small plane was allegedly hijacked by a climate activist in Victoria before it flew in circles around the airport for nearly half an hour.
The man who allegedly seized the Cessna 172 aircraft in Victoria on Tuesday has been charged with hijacking and terrorism offences.
The pilot is believed to be a former commercial airline pilot based in Victoria named Shaheer Cassim, who had previously been involved in climate activism.
In 2012, Cassim held a news conference in Victoria at the start of a cross-country bicycle trek to raise awareness of global warming.
Shortly thereafter, Cassim posted to Facebook claiming that he was a “messenger from Allah” and that “humans will go extinct within a few years.”
The post further stated: “I am the messiah sent to save humanity from climate change and usher in a new era of world peace.”
Police in Richmond received a report that the small plane “had been hijacked” and was on its way to Vancouver around 1 p.m. Vancouver air-traffic control first mentioned a “rogue aircraft” around the same time, asking nearby aircraft to watch for the Cessna and relay to controllers should they need to “manoeuvre as necessary.”
The incident resulted in what the Vancouver airport called a 39-minute “ground stop” for arrivals.
The RCMP have yet to disclose any potential motive in the incident, but a Vancouver air traffic controller was recorded suggesting the alleged hijacking appeared to be “some type of protest.”
Flight radar showed the Cessna flew straight to Vancouver’s airport from Victoria before circling the area for about 25 minutes.
The U.S. fighter jets were still en route to the Canadian airport when the Cessna landed. The jets responded from Washington State’s Joint Base Lewis-McChord base, while Canadian CF-18 Hornets also responded.
The U.S. base is part of the North American Aerospace Defence Command’s western air defence sector and is home to personnel from the Washington Air National Guard, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the United States Navy. Canada’s CF-18 Hornets were coming from Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake in northern Alberta.
Some CF-18s are also based at Canadian Forces Base Bagotville in Saguenay, Quebec.
The aircraft landed at YVR around 1:45 p.m. Social media videos and photos show a swarm of police closing in on the plane as it comes to a halt before the pilot, who appeared to be Cassim, exited the aircraft.
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Time to halt all immigration from Middle Eastern countries. Muslim countries should be told that they have to accept their own as refugees. No more coming to Canada and bringing their hate with them.
US fighter jets had to be scrambled from Washington State. Cold Lake is too faraway! Lol.
Way to go Canada.
Thank you Team USA.