Surrey transit stabber gets 15 years on terrorism-related charges
Published 3:59 pm Thursday, October 29, 2026
Abdul Aziz Kawam, 31, has been sentenced to 15 years and 20 months in prison after being found guilty on terrorism-related charges connected to a knife attack on a Surrey bus on April 1, 2023.
Kawam was sentenced on October 29 in B.C. Supreme Court for attempting to commit murder, for the benefit of or in association with a terrorist group, and assault with a weapon for the benefit of or in association with a terrorist group.
It happened in the 14800-block of Fraser Highway. One victim was attacked at a bus stop, and the other was attacked on the 503 Coast Mountain bus. The victims’ names are shielded by a publication ban.
The Crown had argued for a 20-year sentence and the defence, seven years.
Corporal Parmbir Kahlon, of the RCMP’s federal policing pacific region, noted that Kawam was arrested by Metro Vancouver Transit Police and Surrey Mounties after he approached a man at a bus stop, threatened him and chased him with a knife.
“The victim was able to escape, however, Kawam then boarded a Coast Mountain transit bus and seriously injured another person with the knife. Kawam was pushed off the bus and stated that he pledged allegiance to Abu Al-Hussaini Al-Quraishi – leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) at the time.
“Kawam was arrested by frontline police members while holding the bloody knife and subsequently held in custody. Transit police began an investigation which was transferred to the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team.
Kawam has already spent three years and seven months in prison, for which he’s been credited with five years and four months for time served.
“Incidents of this nature have a profound impact on the individuals involved and the whole community,” Kahlon noted. “As the court process concludes, we hope this outcome provides a measure of reassurance to those affected and our commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
– with a file by Anna Burns