Edmonton transit raises safety concerns after recent attack
Posted April 27, 2022 7:27 pm.
In the wake of a random attack on a 70 year-old woman at the Jubilee LRT Station, Monday night police arrested a 20-year-old man.
The woman was transported to hospital by paramedics, but the attack has shaken many Edmontonians and a University of Alberta criminology professor says because of that, the response from authorities needs to be appropriate.
“That we are bringing very robust charges against the accused persons and the crown prosecutors are seeking very strong punitive measures as well to stem the tide of these unprovoked attacks,” explained professor Temitope Oriola.
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The city has seen many unprovoked attacks at transit stations in recent years, many of which the hate-based attacks on Muslim women wearing hijabs.
Police announced late Wednesday afternoon that the suspect was arrested following another unprovoked attack on a 53-year-old man at the Churchill LRT Station Tuesday afternoon.
Professor Oriola says after attacks like these, it’s crucial to investigate and charge accordingly.
“In order to send a message that we as a society do not tolerate these kinds of incidents and that we will not standby in times of significant social change, it is often convenient for people to hold others responsible for whatever experiences they might be having.”
With Edmontonians from all walks of life taking transit, Oriola says horrific attacks like the one on Tuesday evening have lasting psychological effects on the city’s population, leaving people on edge.
“People begin to self-regulate, how they compose themselves, what time of day they go out.”
