Sword attack at Brandon high school was racially motivated act of hate, police say

WARNING: This story contains graphic details of violence and injuries.

The sword attack at a Brandon high school last week was a targeted and racially motivated assault, police say.

"The offender planned the attack and the perpetration of violence against targets chosen specifically based on race — targeting people of colour and immigrants. It was a deliberate, senseless, targeted act of hate," Chief Tyler Bates said in a statement posted on the police service's Facebook page on Friday.

"This is disturbing and no one should ever fear for their safety because of the colour of their skin, and no child should be made to feel unsafe in a place of learning. There is no place in our community for racism, hate or violence of any kind."

Chinonso Onuke, 15, is recovering after the attack on June 10 left him with wounds on his hands, chest and thigh. Seven of his fingers were nearly severed as he fought off the attacker in a hallway at Neelin High School.

A 16-year-old fellow student faces charges of attempted murder, uttering threats, possession of a weapon and wearing a disguise.

The accused was ordered to have a mental health assessment after a bail hearing in court.

Bates told reporters Friday it may take several months before authorities determine whether to press additional, hate-related charges.

"At this juncture … there's the execution of search warrants that takes place. There's evidence that's gleaned from witness statements that have been taken. All of that collectively, you know, leads you to a particular conclusion," Bates said.

"When you have eyewitness accounts, you know, racialized epithets.… When you have an offender that is armed, that is walking past Caucasian students and having no intent to harm those students, but actively pursuing students of colour, you know, that certainly speaks to a racialized motive," he said. "It's irrefutable."

'The city is united'

Onuke's family are originally from Nigeria. Emmanuel Ahaneku, chair of the Umu Igbo Brandon Association, said they're prominent members of the city's Igbo community.

Ahaneku said Friday the community needed to hear police acknowledging something they already knew, and that the authorities were "calling it what it is."

It "shows the community that, yes, we are part of this community," he said. "Cynicism or pessimism regarding it, this also helps calm that fear.… This city is united and everybody is valued."

In an interview with CBC News earlier this week, Onuke said his attacker was wearing a long black trench coat, a hat and a mask with a long beak. At first, he thought it was a costume — until the teen pulled out a jagged sword and lunged at him, striking him in his stomach.

Onuke fought off the attack and ran to the school office. The school was immediately put into lockdown.

Police were called at 1:15 p.m., and by 1:22 p.m., the 16-year-old was in custody. Officers used a stun gun to subdue and disarm him.

Onuke was rushed to Winnipeg for more than 10 hours of emergency surgery.

In his Facebook post, Bates reiterated what he said at a news conference the day after the attack — that the emergency planning the police service has undertaken with the Brandon School Division, the established relationship between school liaison officers and students, and the swift action of the responding officers "prevented mass casualty."

However, it is clear there remains work to do to further enhance and improve safety within Brandon schools, the post said.

"There's lots of things that happened that prevented further casualty," Bates told reporters. "That solid foundation … [are] things that we can grow from and learn from and look at what further safety measures are prudent."