Quebec university student to face more charges related to classroom disruption

MONTREAL – Further charges will be laid against a Quebec university student who is already facing 14 counts related to the disruption of classes two weeks ago, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

Hamza Babou, 23, was arrested on April 15 and denied bail by a municipal judge in Montreal two days later.

Babou faces 12 charges, including assault, uttering threats and assault with a weapon in one case and is charged with assault and mischief in a separate file.

His lawyer, Veronique Robert, said Wednesday the charge of assault with a weapon is related to an aerosol can that contained so-called “silly string.”

Both cases were put off until Friday, although Robert will be in Quebec Superior Court on Thursday to seek his release.

The prosecutor told Judge Richard Starck other charges would be laid against Babou, who attends the Universite du Quebec a Montreal.

He was arrested amid protests against an injunction that prevented students from disrupting classes.

The handcuffed Babou seemed calm during his brief court appearance Wednesday.