Metro Vancouver Transit Police announced Wednesday they have arrested and charged a 46-year-old man for allegedly assaulting a young Richmond woman.
On Monday night Noor Fadel was sitting on a Canada Line train heading home from Vancouver when she was allegedly assaulted by Pierre Belzan, a man suffering from mental health problems, with no fixed address.
According to Fadel and witness Jake Taylor, Belzan, for no apparent reason, began a profanity-laced tirade in an unclear Arabic-like language at Fadel, a Muslim.
“He raised his hand and began saying he was going to kill me,” said Fadel, who felt she was targeted for wearing a hijab.
He went on to say he was going to kill all Muslims, said Fadel.
Belzan then grabbed Fadel’s head and shoved it into his crotch then slapped her head, said Fadel and Taylor, via social media and television news accounts.
Fadel said she was upset only one stranger, Taylor, intervened.
“One guy just like me on his way home from work got up and pushed the guy away and stayed in front of me until the man got off at Vancouver City Centre,” claims Fadel.
After submitting a photo to police shortly after the incident, police stated they were able to apprehend the man at Vancouver International Airport.
Belzan has since been charged with one count of threatening to cause death or bodily harm and one count of assault. Police have also recommended a charge of sexual assault, which is pending. And, police investigators have also liaised with the BC Hate Crimes Unit.
Belzan is said to have no criminal record but is known to police.
“He does suffer from mental health issues,” said police spokesperson Anne Drennan.
“Having said that, and while we understand mental health issues are to be dealt with in perhaps different ways . . . that’s absolutely no excuse for the kind of treatment this man used on this young woman. It was a very serious incident and we feel compelled to follow through in the justice system,” said Drennan.
“We would like to thank and commend the gentleman who intervened in this incident and came to the aid of the woman. He put his own safety at risk and stopped what might have become an even more serious situation,” noted police via a statement.
