Teen accused in school sword attack praised Nazis, talked about mass murder plans, court hears
A 17-year-old boy is on trial for a 2025 sword attack at a Manitoba high school that left a fellow student injured. Court documents reveal the accused had written about mass murder plans and white supremacist ideologies prior to the racially motivated incident.
Why it matters
The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding youth radicalization and the prevalence of hate-motivated violence in educational settings.
In the months leading up to a sword attack at a Brandon, Man., high school, a teen wrote in a notebook about "invaders" of Canada — specifically Black and Muslim immigrants — and his mass murder plan.
That's according to an agreed statement of facts presented in court Tuesday, as the trial for the boy began unexpectedly ahead of schedule in Brandon's Court of King's Bench. The day was originally scheduled for a pretrial hearing.
The now 17-year-old, who can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, pleaded not guilty to nine charges related to the June 10, 2025, attack at Neelin High School in the southwestern Manitoba city, including three charges of attempted murder.
He's also charged with aggravated assault, two counts of assault with a weapon, wearing a disguise with intent and two counts of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
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