The suspect in Monday’s fires at Langara College is facing additional charges including assault and robbery.
Nasradin Abdusamad Ali, a Surrey resident student at the school, was arrested April 1 after allegedly setting fires in the science and technology building (also referred to as the T building).
“A suspect had allegedly entered the college with improvised incendiary devices,” Vancouver police media relations officer Const. Jason Doucette said earlier this week. “It appears at least two devices were detonated, causing fires, before the suspect fled the area.”
Doucette said officers located at least one more “device” in the school.
Ali was initially charged with one count of arson and one count of possession of incendiary material. On Friday, he was charged with arson and possession of incendiary material, as well as a charge of assault from an alleged incident on March 7 and a robbery charge from a March 26 incident.
Vancouver police said that on March 7 Ali allegedly got into an altercation with another student on campus. It was not reported to police until after the incident on April 1. Later in the month, on March 26, he allegedly robbed another Langara student near a bus stop on East 53rd Avenue and Fleming Street.
It was reported to VPD that day and detectives have since been able to collect enough evidence for Crown counsel to charge Ali with robbery.
He remains in custody.
Doucette said police are not aware of any threats made at the school before Monday’s incident.
However, the Langara Voice earlier this week reported that Ali sent an email to a teacher shortly after the fires were set, which appears to indicate the action was targeted at a member of the college’s administration. As well, the student paper reported that the second fire was set in close proximity to the teacher’s office.
As well, according to the B.C. court registry, an individual with the same name was charged with theft under $5,000 and uttering threats In February 2018. Those charges were eventually stayed.
Just before noon on Monday, Vancouver police and firefighters responded to reports of a suspicious fire at the campus on East 49th Avenue.
The Vancouver police emergency response team was called in and spent the rest of the afternoon and into the evening searching the campus for additional hazards. East 49th between Ontario and Alberta streets was closed for several hours as first responders converged on the campus.
Doucette said police quickly identified Ali as a suspect in the fires, and he was arrested just after 4 p.m. in Surrey by Metro Vancouver Transit Police. He was turned over the Vancouver police and remains in custody.
The campus remained closed, re-opening Wednesday for classes and exams, however the T building will remain closed until further notice.
@JessicaEKerr
jkerr@vancourier.com
