Mohammed Sharaz speaks out about his role in Vancouver mall mystery
The 3 tourists from Manchester were in Canada for vision impairment treatment
CBC News Posted: Jan 15, 2016 3:39 PM PT| Last Updated: Jan 15, 2016 11:40 PM PT
One of the three people who raised security alarm bells by taking photographs and video inside a downtown shopping mall says he was travelling to Vancouver with his son and a friend, who are getting treatment for vision impairment.
"I bought my son a little phone he brought with him just to take pictures of anything he can remember, take it back home and show his family and his friends," said Mohammed Sharaz, from Manchester.
"My friend, when he looks at anything head on, he doesn't see like me and you do. So he'll take a picture or a movie and then later on when he gets back he zooms into it and he watches stuff," said Sharaz. "He takes pictures of anything and everything."
Sharaz said he didn't think much of it until he saw reports of himself, his son and his friend. He said he immediately phoned police, but didn't get through to anyone until after he had dropped off his son and friend at the Wellspring Clinic for Holistic Medicine where they were seeking treatment.
"I got through to a lady. I explained everything to her," he said.
Police confirmed their identities later that day, when plain-clothed officers finally came by to meet with them late in the afternoon and took them to the police station through the back door.
"Obviously they didn't feel threatened by us or anything," said Sharaz. "I haven't heard from them since."
Sharaz said he had no issues with how police treated the situation. What concerned him more was that the information had been leaked, potentially putting him, his son and his friend at risk of harm from vigilantes.
He said the three of them have stayed inside since they found out the photo of the three of them was circulating on social media and the internet.
