Canada police kill ‘radicalized’ driver after he rams two soldiers
A Canadian man who was killed by police on Monday after trying to run over two soldiers in Quebec “had become radicalized,” the government said after the first such incident in Canada since the country joined the fight against Islamic State militants.
Canadian media, citing police, identified the driver as Martin Couture-Rouleau, a resident of the town of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, near Montreal.
A neighbour, speaking on condition that her name not be used, told Reuters the man became radicalized about a year ago after getting involved with extremist Muslims.
Car chase
Quebec police shot and killed the 25-year-old driver after a chase following the incident.
One of the two soldiers who was run over had life-threatening injuries. Police did not say whether the soldiers were in uniform.
“The individual who struck the two (Canadian Armed Forces) members with his car is known to federal authorities, including the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team,” said a statement from Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office.
“Federal authorities have confirmed that there are clear indications that the individual had become radicalized.” - A statement from Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office
The incident took place in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, around 40 km southeast of Montreal.
After the collision the driver sped off and was chased by police. He lost control of the car, which landed in a ditch. He was shot after confronting officers, police said.
Surete du Quebec (SQ) officers investigate the scene of a police shooting in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec Oct 20, 2014. Photo: Reuters
Earlier in the day, Randy Hoback, a member of Parliament for the ruling Conservative Party, referred in the House of Commons to unconfirmed reports of “a possible terror attack against two members of the Canadian armed forces.”
At the time, Harper said the reports were “extremely troubling” but declined to give more details.
A spokesman for the Surete du Quebec, the provincial police, pressed as to whether the victims had been specially targeted, said that was one of several hypotheses but stressed it would take the police days to work out what had happened.
Fighter jets
Canada is sending six fighter jets to take part in the US-led campaign against Islamic State militants in Iraq.
Canadian security officials have fretted for years about the potential threat of radicalized young men, especially those travelling abroad to join militant groups including Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. There was no immediate indication Rouleau had travelled abroad.
Ray Boisvert, former assistant director for intelligence at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) spy agency, said he suspects Rouleau was a lone actor who would have been difficult for authorities to stop.
“It reflects what’s going on in a very active threat environment. You have far too many targets and far too many active targets,” he said.
The head of CSIS said on Oct 9 that “we have no information indicating an imminent attack”.
On Oct 9, Canadian Public Safely Minister Stephen Blaney said police wanted to arrest 80 people who returned to the country after taking part in what he called suspected terrorism-related activities.
A report issued by his ministry at the same time said“global violent extremists” had identified Canada as a target. - Reuters
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