Alek Minassian Says He Had a ‘Strong Desire’ to Commit Van Attack, Court Hears

Crown attorney Joe Callaghan, clockwise from top left, Justice Anne Molloy, accused in the April 2018 Toronto van attack Alek Minsassian and Dr. Alexander Westphal are shown during a murder trial conducted via Zoom videoconference, in this courtroom sketch on Nov. 30, 2020. The Canadian Press/Alexandra Newbould

TORONTO—The man who drove a van down a crowded Toronto sidewalk and killed 10 people told a psychiatrist he had a strong desire to commit the attack.

The trial of Alek Minassian has heard he told the psychiatrist that while he did not feel compelled to carry out the attack, he simply wanted to.