CBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, described the suspects of armed robberies as “26-year-old from Brampton” and “25-year-old from Toronto” while Peel Police identified the suspects by their names “Aynla Mustafa Hassan” and “Mossab Abdelrahim”.
CBC’s Article
On September 16, 2018 CBC published an article entitled: “2 men faced combined 52 charges for spate of robberies in Brampton and Toronto.”
Two men are facing a host of charges for a months-long series of armed robberies throughout Brampton and Toronto, Peel police said Sunday.
According to police, the men wore disguises and threatened victims with a gun during robberies at “various financial and retail locations.” While police did not specify how many incidents were reported, they did indicate that they took place between June 14 and Sept. 10.
The suspects were after cash, police said. The pair were arrested on Friday after a joint investigation by Peel Regional Police and a robbery-focused unit of the Toronto police called the “Hold Up Squad.”
During the arrest, officers found a .22 calibre handgun inside a vehicle. A replica firearm, masks and “clothing specific to the robberies” were found at a resident associated with one of the men, according to police.
One of the men, a 26-year-old from Brampton, faces 43 charges, including 12 counts of robbery and eight firearm-related charges.The other accused, a 25-year-old from Toronto, has been charged with nine offences, mostly firearm-related.
Peel Police’s media release
CBC’s article relied on a media release published by Peel Police on September 16, 2018:
Investigators from the Peel Regional Police Central Robbery Bureau have arrested two men for a series of robberies.
Between June 14, 2018 and September 10, 2018, a number of armed robberies occurred at various financial and retail locations throughout the cities of Brampton and Toronto. During each of the robberies, the suspects wore a variety of disguises to conceal their identities and would confront the victims while armed with a handgun and make a demand for money. Working in conjunction with the Toronto Police Hold Up Squad, members of the Central Robbery Bureau initiated an investigation.
As a result of the investigation, members of the Central Robbery Bureau arrested Aynla Mustafa Hassan and Mossab Abdelrahim on September 14, 2018. During the course of their arrest, a .22 calibre handgun was also recovered in a vehicle.
Police conducted a Criminal Code search warrant on a residence associated to one of the suspects and located a replica firearm, masks and clothing specific to the robberies.
Aynla Mustafa Hassan, a 26 year-old man from Brampton has been charged with the following offences:
Robbery (12 counts)
Wear Disguise During the Commission of an Offence (12 counts)
Use Imitation Firearm While Committing an Offence (11 counts)
Careless Storage of Firearm
Unauthorized Possession of Firearm
Unauthorized Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Weapon
Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Firearm
Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Weapon
Occupant of Motor Vehicle Knowing there was a Firearm
Tampering with Serial Number of Firearm
Breach of Probation Order
Mossab Abdelrahim, a 25 year old man from Toronto has been charged with the following offences:
Careless Storage of Firearm
Unauthorized Possession of Firearm
Unauthorized Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Weapon
Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Firearm
Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Weapon
Occupant of Motor Vehicle Knowing there was a Firearm
Tampering with Serial Number of Firearm
Possession of Firearm Contrary to Order
Fail to Comply with Recognizance
Both men were held in custody and appeared in the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton on September 15, 2018.