Terrorism and mass attacks in Canada includes acts of terrorism, as well as mass shootings, vehicle-ramming attacks, mass stabbings, and other such acts committed in Canada that people may associate with terroristic tactics but have not been classified as terrorism by the Canadian legal system. (For example, the 2018 Toronto shooting was a mass shooting that law enforcement officials did not connect to terrorism.)[1]
The Criminal Code of Canada defines terrorist activity to include an "act or omission undertaken, in or outside Canada, for a political, religious or ideological purpose, that is intended to intimidate the public with regard to its security, including its economic security, or to compel a person, government or organization (whether in or outside Canada) to do or refrain from doing any act, and that intentionally causes one of a number of specific forms of serious harm."[1] As such, some of the terrorist acts listed here are related to external events and nationalities, while others, such as the FLQ crisis in 1970, are related to internal tensions within the country.
The Canadian government uses the National Terrorism Threat Level (NTTL) to identify the probability of terrorism occurring in Canada. As of 22 May 2021[update], Canada's current threat level is "Medium," which means that a "violent act of terrorism could occur;" it has been at this level since October 2014.[1][4]
Canadian federal statutes establish a legal regime that prosecutes terrorists for their activities.[3][5] The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC), under the Attorney General of Canada, prosecutes offenses on behalf of the Canadian government, including those involving national security such as terrorist activities.[3] If a person carries out a terrorist attack or instructs someone else to carry out a terrorist attack, they are given a life sentence. Anyone who facilitates a terrorist attack is liable to imprisonment for no more than 10 years.[6]
The Criminal Code of Canada defines terrorist activity to include an "act or omission undertaken, in or outside Canada, for a political, religious or ideological purpose, that is intended to intimidate the public with regard to its security, including its economic security, or to compel a person, government or organization (whether in or outside Canada) to do or refrain from doing any act, and that intentionally causes one of a number of specific forms of serious harm."[1]
The Combating Terrorism Act, which came into force in July 2013, renewed parts of the Criminal Code by creating four new offences intended to prevent and deter individuals from leaving Canada for particular terrorism-related purposes.[1]
Canada's Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) "provides measures for the Government of Canada to create a list of entities that: have knowingly carried out, attempted to carry out, participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity" or "knowingly acted on behalf of, at the direction of or in association with an entity that has knowingly carried out, attempted to carry out, participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity."[7] The Act specifically provides that "for the Governor in Council to establish by regulation a list on which, on the recommendation of the Minister of Public Safety, any entity may be placed."[7] The ATA replaced the Official Secrets Act with the Security of Information Act (SOIA), which focuses on "conduct harmful to, or likely to harm Canada." It also defined the concept of "harm to Canadian interests" to address a broad range of potential harms, including terrorist activity, interference with critical infrastructure, and the development of weapons of mass destruction in contravention of international law.[3]
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Act provides the Minister of Foreign Affairs with responsibility over all matters relating to the conduct of Canada's external affairs, including countering international terrorism and responding to terrorist incidents abroad.[3] Moreover, the Government of Canada lists state supporters of terrorism under the State Immunity Act, which (like the JVTA) revokes certain legal immunities from listed countries, allowing civil suits to be filed against those countries in Canadian courts for loss or damage resulting from its involvement in terrorism anywhere in the world. In 2012, both Syria and Iran were listed.[1]
The Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act (JVTA) allows Canada's victims of terrorism to sue perpetrators and those that support them for loss or damage that occurred as a result of an act of terrorism committed in Canada or abroad.[8] Similar to the JVTA, amendments made to the State Immunity Act, allow for countries listed by the federal government as state supporters of terrorism to be sued in Canadian courts for loss or damage resulting from its involvement in terrorism anywhere in the world.[1][8]
On 1 May 2006, the Government of Canada announced the launch of a full public inquiry into the Air India Flight 182 bombing and its investigation. Initiated later in June, the inquiry was to look into the ways in which Canadian law restricted funding terrorist groups, how well witness protection is provided in terrorist cases, if Canada needs to upgrade its airport security, and if issues of co-operation between the RCMP, CSIS, and other law enforcement agencies had been resolved. It was to also provide a forum wherein families of the victims could testify on the impact of the bombing and would not repeat any criminal trials.[9]
From 1 December 2011 to 31 July 2012, families of the passengers and crew who died on Air India Flight 182 on 23 June 1985 have been offered a one-time ex gratia payment by Canadian government, as "a demonstration of solicitude and recognition for the administrative disdain families experienced in the years following" the tragedy. Payments have been made to eligible applicants for 275 victims.[10] Moreover, every June 23, some Canadians observe National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism to honour the victims.
In practice, the immediate response to terrorist incidents in Canada is to be led by local law enforcement and emergency management authorities. This involves the RCMP as being the first police responder in those provinces and territories where it provides local police services. Particular terrorist incidents may involve specific responses from designated agencies; for instance, under the National Defence Act or through the Crown Prerogative, the Canadian Armed Forces can be called upon to respond directly to terrorist incidents in Canada. As such, the Minister of National Defence plays a key role in preparation for, and execution of, any deployment of Canadian Forces in response to terrorist activity domestically or abroad.[3]
Claiming that the safety and security of Canadians to be its first priority, the Government of Canada puts significant attention towards its counterterrorism efforts.[14]"Building Resilience Against Terrorism" (2013)[3] is Canada's first counterterrorism strategy, which aims to counter domestic and international terrorism so to protect Canada, Canadians, and Canadian interests. The strategy "assesses the nature and scale of the threat, and "sets out basic principles and elements that underpin the Government's counter-terrorism activities."[14]
The Canadian government uses the National Terrorism Threat Level (NTTL) to identify the probability of terrorism occurring in Canada. As of 22 May 2021[update], Canada's current threat level is "Medium," which means that a "violent act of terrorism could occur;" it has been at this level since October 2014.[4][1] More specifically, this means that "extremist groups and individuals located in Canada and abroad, have both the intent AND capability to carry out an act of terrorism in Canada."[1]
Counter-terrorism organizations and jurisdictions
Federal government organizations that have a hand in counterterrorism in Canada include:[3]
Canada Command — provides coordination with other federal departments and agencies, as well as domestic and international partners, in responding to national security events.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (part of Public Safety Canada) — the primary agency responsible for national security law enforcement across Canada. The RCMP also conducts extraterritorial investigations of terrorist activity when committed against a Canadian citizen or by a Canadian citizen abroad. Among other things, the RCMP also operates:
Counter-terrorism Information Officer initiative — provides first responders with "terrorism awareness training on key indicators of terrorist activities, techniques and practices in order to help detect threats at the earliest stage possible."
Government Operations Centre (part of Public Safety Canada) — the chief means through which the Minister of Public Safety facilitates their emergency response. On behalf of the federal government, the Centre supports response coordination across the government and others.
In terms of broader counterterrorism intelligence, other federal organizations also collect information in support of their primary responsibilities; this includes:[3]
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service, part of Public Safety Canada, is Canada's primary national intelligence agency. Among other things, CSIS compiles the information they collect themselves with information from other sources to provide Parliament with intelligence assessments on terrorist threats. The National Security Advisor (NSA) is responsible for providing information, advice, and recommendations on security and intelligence to the Prime Minister; co-ordinating the security and intelligence community; and overseeing intelligence assessment.[3]
The Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre (ITAC) is a cooperative initiative, housed at CSIS, to facilitate intelligence information sharing and analysis within the Canadian intelligence community and to first responders, such as law enforcement. Its assessments integrate intelligence from across departments and agencies as well as from external partners. Similarly, the RCMP's Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams (INSETs) bring together federal, provincial, and municipal police and intelligence resources "to collect, share, and analyze information in support of criminal investigations and threat assessments."[3]
The Privy Council Office's Security and Intelligence Secretariat provides policy support to the NSA, the Prime Minister, and the Clerk of the Privy Council, as well as coordinating committees on security and intelligence issues. The PCO's International Assessment Staff (PCO IAS) helps to coordinate "the efforts of the Canadian assessment community and provides PCO and other senior government clients with policy-neutral assessments of foreign developments and trends that may affect Canadian interests."[3]
In accordance with the PCMLTFA, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre works to prevent and deter terrorist financing. Likewise, the Charities Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency reviews applications, conducts audits, and collects and analyzes multi-source intelligence in order to detect and address risks to Canada's charitable sector. These operations are in accordance with the Income Tax Act, the Charities Registration (Security Information) Act, and the PCMLTFA.[3]
The Finance Department also leads the Canadian effort in related international activities, particularly regarding the work of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).[3]
The CBSA, which is a part of Public Safety Canada, has an "Immigration Security Screening" program, which can "detect the movement of potential subjects of interest as they apply for temporary or permanent residence, or refugee status," as per IRPA. CBSA also monitors the cross-border flow of currency, and has the authority to seize "unreported currency flows suspected of being the proceeds of crime or related to terrorist financing."[3]
Under IRPA, the Canadian government uses security certificates to detain and deportforeign nationals and all other non-citizens living in Canada. The certificate can be issued towards a permanent resident or any other non-citizen perceived to be a threat to national security, as well as those suspected of violating human rights or of having membership within organized crime.[16][17]
Public Safety Canada and Transport Canada jointly oversee the Canadian no-fly list, called the Passenger Protect program, which identifies individuals who may pose a threat to aviation security and "reduces their ability to cause harm or threaten aviation by taking action, such as preventing them from boarding an aircraft." Additional security is provided through passenger and baggage screening, which is conducted by Transport Canada's Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA).[3]
International and extraterritorial security
The Combating Terrorism Act, which came into force in July 2013, was put in place with the intent to prevent and deter individuals from leaving Canada for particular terrorism-related purposes.[1]
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Act provides the Minister of Foreign Affairs with responsibility over all matters relating to the conduct of Canada's external affairs, including countering international terrorism and responding to terrorist incidents abroad.[3] As such, the Foreign Affairs Minister leads Canada's response to terrorist or security-related incidents outside of the country. Global Affairs Canada is accordingly responsible for assessing social, economic, security, and political developments that "help define a global threat environment." Depending on the nature of the incident, the Canadian response can include the provision of consular assistance to Canadians overseas (including expatriates); financial or physical aid; or deployments of experts from Canada's national security community.[3]
The Canadian government also engages in the Global Coalition against Daesh, a partnership of 79 countries that works towards defeating Daesh through such activities as preventing the flow of foreign terrorist fighters across borders and countering the group's communications.[18]
Moreover, all members of the Canadian Forces are trained in CBRNE defense. The Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit is a unit under the direction of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command that is tasked with supporting the federal government in preventing, controlling, and mitigating CBRN threats to Canada, Canadians, and Canadian interests.[3]
Health Canada is also mandated to provide services to support the overall security objectives for major international events (such as the 2010 Winter Olympics or G20 summit), specifically in the areas of health and safety of federal government employees, surveillance and response to radiological nuclear threats, and support to first-responders in the event of a CBRNE event or disease outbreak.[3]
In April 2006, the Canadian government designated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam as a terrorist group.[23] In December that year, the government expanded the federal ban of Hezbollah from the purely militant wing to all 16 sub-organizations.[24]
Research on extremism in Canada
The Kanishka Project was a CA$10-million, five-year initiative of Public Safety Canada that provided funding to research on terrorism-related matters affecting Canada.[10][25][26]
Announced by the Government of Canada in June 2011, the Project was named after the Boeing 747-237B (Emperor Kanishka) plane that was bombed in the Air India Flight 182 attack of 1985.[25][26] It funded nearly 70 projects and contributed to hosting various events related to discussing counter-terrorism.[25] As part of the Project, $3.7 million was invested with Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) towards supporting research and related activities that addressed the issues identified by the Kanishka Project.[27]
The Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security and Society (TSAS), located at the University of Waterloo, is an academic research network purposed to form "multidisciplinary research on terrorist radicalization" and "the coordinated interaction of academic researchers with government officials." It was created in 2012 with funding both the Kanishka Project and a grant from the SSHRC.[26][28] TSAS' co-directors are Lorne Dawson and Veronica Kitchen.[28]
In terms of radicalization to violence, various federal and provincial/territorial government initiatives have been established, particularly under Public Safety Canada on the federal level. Particularly, the Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence (Canada Centre) leads the Canadian government's efforts to "counter radicalization to violence." It does not manage or advise on individual cases, but rather addresses the issue in terms of broad strategy.[29] The Centre was mandated in 2015; the federal budget the following year allocated $35 million over five years to establish and support the Centre, in addition to $10 million per year on-going.[18] The Canada Centre also leads the Canadian government's engagement and cooperation with the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT), established by Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Microsoft in 2017.[18]
On 11 December 2018, the Canada Centre launched the "National Strategy on Countering Radicalization to Violence," which is meant to "explain[] radicalization to violence and the destructive and harmful behaviours involved," as well as outlining the federal government's "approach and key priorities in countering and preventing radicalization to violence." Implementation of the National Strategy is supervised by the National Expert Committee on Countering Radicalization to Violence.[18]
The Community Resilience Fund (CRF) is a system, administered by the Canada Centre, for supporting "partnerships in countering radicalization to violence in Canada," providing funding to organizations towards engagement (e.g., research, cooperation, engaging communities, etc.) with the issue.[30] As of 2019‑2020 onward, the Fund has been promised $7 million available each year for existing and new projects. Through CRF, the Canada Centre has supported the Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence, located in Montréal, in conducting research on "better understanding risk and protective factors within families of individuals who radicalize to violence and also the role families and communities can play in mitigating radicalization to violence." Also through the Fund, the Canada Centre has supported "multi-agency intervention programs to build capacity to manage cases of individuals who are radicalizing to violence."[18]
Counter-radicalization programs
A number of government departments deliver "social programming that contribute" to supporting approaches "to preventing radicalization to violence". Such federal departments include:[18]
Calgary Re-Direct — a partnership between the City of Calgary, Community and Neighbourhood Services, the Calgary Police Service, and others that "uses a multidisciplinary approach to intervention with youth and young adults who are vulnerable to radicalization to violence."
Social Polarizations — a team of mental-health professionals who specialize in interventions to counter radicalization to violence, based in a local Integrated Health and Social Services Centre in Quebec.
Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence (CPRLV; often called the Montreal Centre)
Croatian nationalists bomb the Yugoslav consulate at 377 Spadina Road in Toronto. The blast "destroyed the door, door jamb, cement threshold, and foyer ceiling, and heavily damaged a vestibule and anteroom;" it blew out the door and windows, and collapsed part of the first floor ceiling. No people were killed.[36]
Anti-Castro forces bomb the offices of the Cuban trade delegation in Ottawa.
Anti-Castro
Bombing
January 29, 1967
Ottawa and Toronto, ON
The Yugoslav embassy in Ottawa and the consulate in Toronto are among 6 Yugoslav offices in North America attacked as part of a synchronized bombing, on the eve of the anniversary of the adoption of Yugoslavia’s constitution. (The other bombs went off in the embassy of Washington, D.C., and the consulates in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco.) The explosion destroyed windows in 15 houses, 35 apartments, and 6 nearby stores. No people were killed.[36]
Anti-Tito
Bombing
May 31, 1967
Montreal, QC
A small bomb explodes at the Cuba Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal. The attack is attributed to Cuban Nationalist action.
Anti-Castro (Cuban nationalism)
Bombing
October 15, 1967
Montreal, QC
A bomb explodes at the offices of the native trade delegation in Montreal.
Anti-Castro (Cuban nationalism)
Bombing
May 29, 1969
Montreal, QC
A bomb is placed in the doorway of the Cuban consulate in Montreal but fails to go off.
Anti-Castro (Cuban nationalism)
Bombing attempt
July 12, 1971
Montreal, QC
A small bomb goes off at the offices of the native trade delegation in Montreal.
Anti-Castro
Bombing
April 4, 1972
Montreal, QC
Cuban official Sergio Pérez Castillo is killed by an explosion at the Cuban consulate in Montreal.
Turkish military attaché to Canada Col. Atilla Altıkat, is assassinated by Armenian militants in Ottawa while sitting in his vehicle at a traffic light.[35][39]
An attempt is made to assassinate Malkiat Singh Sidhu, a cabinet minister in the Indian province of Punjab visiting Vancouver. Sidhu is shot and wounded, but survives.[39]
Arson and bombing by Freedomites (who called themselves svobodniki, Russian: "sovereign people") targeted wood structures and government buildings such as schools to protest materialism, and government pressure to school Svobodnik children
Peter Verigin, aged 65, is killed in a still-unsolved Canadian Pacific Railway train explosion on the Kettle Valley Railway (now known locally as the Columbia and Western Railway) line near Farron, between Castlegar and Grand Forks. It also kills Verigin's 17-year-old female companion Marie Strelaeff, member of the provincial legislature John McKie, P.J Campbell, Hakim Singh, Harry J. Bishop, W. J. Armstrong, and Neil E. Armstrong. The government initially (during investigation) had stated the crime was perpetrated by people within the Doukhobor community, while the Doukhobors suspected Canadian government involvement. To date, it is still unknown who was responsible for the bombing.[44]
Anti-materialism
Bombing
1960s
British Columbia
Arson and bombings by SOF (Sons of Freedom), mostly conducted in the nude, took place throughout the 1960s:
August 25, 1960 — A section of a Canadian Pacific Railway track near Thrums, BC, is bombed. Pieces of the timing device (including a watch) were found at the scene by police. Three members of SOF (Sons of Freedom) were convicted for the incident and received jail terms ranging from 6 to 12 years.[45]
Front de libération du Québec (FLQ), a separatist group, begins a bombing campaign at the average rate of one every ten days, detonating over 950 bombs in total and culminating in the 1970 October Crisis.[46] Targets included English owned businesses, banks, McGill University, and the homes of prominent English speakers.[47]
April 21, 1963 — FLQ bombing of the Canadian Army Recruiting Centre in Montreal, killing Sgt. Wilfred V. O'Neil.
February 22, 1969 — FLQ terrorist bomb explodes at Liberal Party social club in Montreal, injuring two people.
June 24, 1970 — FLQ places a bomb in a window well of the National Defence Headquarters on Lisgar Street in Ottawa. The explosion killed a cleaning lady.
British diplomat James Cross and (on October 10) Quebec Minister of Labour Pierre Laporte are kidnapped by the FLQ in Montreal. (Laporte's dead body was discovered in the trunk of a car in Montreal on October 17, and the murderers were arrested on December 26; Cross was released on December 3.)
Activist Henry Morgentaler was attacked by a man wielding garden shears; the attack was blocked by feminist activist Judy Rebick, who was standing nearby.[52]
Soldier Denis Lortie, a federalist, entered the National Assembly of Quebec with the intent of killing René Lévesque and the deputies of the Parti Québécois. By chance, he came in too early, so fails to kill any deputies; though, he kills 3 other people and wounds 13. Unarmed employee René Jalbert negotiated with Lortie for several hours and convinced him to give up his gun and be arrested. Jalbert was decorated the next week.
École Polytechnique massacre (or Montreal massacre): 25-year-old Marc Lépine, armed with a rifle and a hunting knife, shoots 28 people, killing 14 women, before committing suicide at the Polytechnique Montréal. He claimed he was "fighting feminism" and calling the women "a bunch of feminists," he shot all 9 women in the room, killing 6. He then moved through corridors, the cafeteria, and another classroom, specifically targeting women to shoot.
Activist Henry Morgentaler's clinic is firebombed and sustained severe damage. The event occurred at night, so no one was injured, although a nearby bookstore was damaged. Appointments were switched to another clinic in Toronto and no abortions were prevented.[53]
The 1995 attack was part of a string of bombings by Bell, which began in 1988 with a pipe bomb denoting in a flower bed outside the Provincial Court in Charlottetown; followed by a garbage can explosion in Halifax's Point Pleasant Park in 1994; ending in 1996 with undetonated explosives that were planted at a Charlottetown propane station.[55][56]
Dr. Garson Romalis is stabbed by an unidentified assailant in the lobby of his clinic.[57]
Anti-abortion
Stabbing
September 20, 2000
Montreal, QC
The Brigade d'autodéfense du français bombs the St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Montreal where an English fundraiser was to be held.[58]
Quebec nationalism
Bombing
2001
Montreal, QC
Second Cup firebombing: The FLQ/Brigade d'autodéfense du français firebombs three Second Cup locations in Montreal. They were targeted because of the company's use of its incorporated English name "Second Cup". Rhéal Mathieu, a previously convicted FLQ terrorist, was convicted for all three bombings. Seven McDonald's restaurants were also firebombed.
Misbahuddin Ahmed, a former hospital technician, is arrested (later convicted in July 2014) of conspiring to knowingly facilitate a terrorist activity, of participation in the activities of a terrorist group, and of possession of explosives with intent to do harm.[60][61]
Moncton shootings: Justin Bourque, a 24-year-old, shot five officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), killing three and severely injuring two.[1][68] Bourque admittedly planned to kill as many officers as he could, in an attempt to start a rebellion against what he considers an oppressive, corrupt government that he insists is suppressing the freedom of most Canadians and serving only the rich.[68]
2014 shootings at Parliament Hill: Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a convert to Islam, fatally shoots Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a Canadian soldier on ceremonial sentry duty at the National War Memorial, and then forced his way into Canada's parliament building, where he has a shootout with parliament security personnel. He is shot 31 times and dies at the scene. Zehaf-Bibeau made a video prior to the attack in which he expressed his motives as being related "to Canada's foreign policy and in respect of his religious beliefs."[70][71]
Aaron Driver is killed in a confrontation with police after detonating an explosive in the back seat of a taxi. The confrontation followed a tip from the FBI that Driver had made a "martyrdom video" and was planning an attack on an urban area.[72]
2017 Edmonton attack: 30-year-old Abdulahi Sharif drives into Edmonton police constable Mike Chernyk, then stabs him near Commonwealth Stadium, fleeing and later hitting four pedestrians with a rental truck during a police pursuit.[76][77] Police have investigated the incident as an act of terrorism and confirmed the presence of an ISIS flag in the van that struck the police officer.[78] Sharif was confirmed by RCMP assistant commissioner Marlin Degrand as a Somali national known to the RCMP and Edmonton Police as having past displayed signs of extremism.[79]
Islamic extremism (allegiance to ISIS)
Vehicle-ramming and stabbing
April 23, 2018
Toronto, ON
Toronto van attack: after 25-year-old Alek Minassian's van attack in Toronto, a Facebook post was uncovered which tied him to predominantly male online communities wherein terminology such as "Incel Rebellion", "Beta Uprising," and "Beta Male Uprising" is used, referring to a violent response to sexlessness.[80] Minassian was reported to have self-identified as an incel, an abbreviation of involuntary celibacy, which describes the state of being unable to find a romantic or sexual relationship despite desiring one.[81]
2018 Toronto shooting: Faisal Hussain killed 2 and injured 13 on Toronto's Danforth Avenue. Authorities were unable to determine a motive despite a year long investigation.[82] Hussain was alleged to have been inspired by Elliot Rodger (part of the incel movement).[83]Daesh claimed responsibility but law enforcement rejected this claim.[1]
Saad Akhtar kills a 64-year-old woman with a hammer in Toronto. The victim was chosen at random. Akhtar left a note on the victim's body, expressing support for ISIS. He was arrested and charged with terrorism offences.[84]
Islamic extremism (allegiance to ISIS)
Hammer attack
February 24, 2020
Toronto, ON
2020 Toronto machete attack: A 17-year-old boy stabs a female spa worker to death, attempts to kill her coworker, and injures another at a sensual massage parlour in Toronto. On May 19, the Toronto Police Service said the attack was attributed to the incel ideology and was being considered an act of terrorism.[85]
Misogynist terrorism / incel extremism
Stabbing
June 6, 2021
London, ON
London, Ontario truck attack: A man uses a pickup truck to run down a family of five, killing four and seriously injuring the fifth. The family is alleged to have been targeted because they were visibly Muslim.
Islamophobia
Vehicle-ramming
April 1, 2023
Surrey, B.C
A man was stabbed and wounded in the throat on a bus in Surrey by an Islamic State sympathyzer.[86]
Islamic extremism
Stabbing attack
Suspected terrorism
March 5, 2015 — While new anti-terrorism law was under consideration and months before federal election, four Conservative Party Members of Parliament (Denis Lebel, Steven Blaney, Christian Paradis and Maxime Bernier) in Quebec received letters with white powder (Anthrax hoaxes) and message "Conservateurs, vous serez anéantis," which translates to "Conservatives, you will be annihilated" at their constituency offices.[87]
Terrorism abroad
Canadian victims of non-Canada-related extremism abroad include:
June 13, 2016– Killing of Robert Hall (Philippines): On 21 September 2015, Canadian citizen Robert Hall (66) was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines and beheaded nine months later near Patikul, Sulu.[89][90][91]
January 15, 2006– Killing of Glyn Berry (Afghanistan): A car bomb attack in Afghanistan killed Glyn Berry, the first Canadian diplomat to be killed while on duty in Afghanistan. Two other civilians were killed in the incident and 10 people were wounded, including three Canadian soldiers, MCpl. Paul Franklin, Pte. William Edward Salikin and Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey.[92]
Extremists with Canadian connections abroad
The Combating Terrorism Act, which came into force in July 2013, was put in place with the intent to prevent and deter individuals from leaving Canada for particular terrorism-related purposes. In 2018, the Canadian government states that there has not been an increase, nor does it expect an increase, in the number of Canadian Extremist Travellers (CETs) who have returned to Canada. The total number of CETs identified by the government includes around 190 individuals who have a nexus to Canada, and near 60 who have returned.[1]
The following are some extremists around the world with Canadian connections.[1]
Xristos Katsiroubas and Ali Medlej (Algeria) — two high school friends from London, Ontario who went to Morocco in 2011, and then onwards to Mauritania, Niger, and Libya, where they are said to have trained under Algerian terrorist Mokhtar Belmokhtar. Both were killed after taking part in a terrorist attack in the In Amenas hostage crisis in January 2013, which killed 38 hostages at an Algerian gas plant.
Andre Poulin (Syria) — a man from Timmins, Ontario who subscribed to violent extremist views in 2008. Arriving in Syria in 2012, he is considered to have been killed fighting at the al-Minakh airfield in August 2013.
Ali Mohamed Dirie (Syria) — a former member of the "Toronto 18" previously imprisoned for plotting terrorist attacks in Ontario. Within a year of his release, Dirie travelled to Syria and joined a terrorist group.
Damian Clairmont or Mustafa al-Gharib (Syria) — a man Calgary, Alberta who subscribed to violent extremist views. He is presumed to have been killed in infighting between terrorist groups in Syria.
Mahad Ali Dhore (Somalia) — a man who crossed into Somalia while visiting Kenya to join an al-Shabaab training camp. He is considered to have been killed while helping conduct an April 2013 terrorist attack in Mogadishu.
^Taylor, Phil (2011). Montreal and the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln: John Wilkes Booth's Unexplained Visit to Montreal in October 1864. Bakara. ISBN978-1926824086.
^ abcdeKopvillem, Peeter (April 17, 1989). "Capital Standoff". Maclean's | The Complete Archive. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
^Kellett, A., B. Beanlands, J. Deacon, et al. 1991. Terrorism in Canada 1960-1989, User Report no. 1990-16. Ottawa: Solicitor General Canada, National Security Coordination Centre. p. 197.
^McMartin, Pete (July 7, 1995). "The day the sky exploded: 52 people plunged to their deaths on July 8, 1965, and nobody knows why it happened". The Vancouver Sun. pp. B.3.
Bell, Stewart. 2007. Cold Terror: How Canada Nurtures and Exports Terrorism around the World.
Hamilton, Dwight. 2006. Inside Canadian Intelligence: Exposing the New Realities of Espionage and International Terrorism. Dundurn Press. ISBN1-55002-608-9. Preview at Google Books.
Jiwa, Salim, and Donald J. Hauka. 2006. Margin of Terror: A Reporter's Twenty-Year Odyssey Covering the Tragedies of the Air India Bombing.
Kellett, Anthony. 2004. "Terrorism in Canada, 1960-1992" Ch. 10 in Violence in Canada: Sociopolitical Perspectives.
Roach, Kent. 2003. September 11: Consequences for Canada. McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 0-7735-2584-X. Preview at Google Books.
Ross, J. I. 1988. "An Events Data Base on Political Terrorism in Canada: Some Conceptual and Methodological Problems." Conflict Quarterly 8(2):47–65.
—— 1992. "Attacking Terrorist Attacks: Initial Tests of the Contagion Between Domestic and International Terrorism in Canada." Low Intensity Violence and Law Enforcement 1(2):163–83.
—— 1994. "Low-Intensity Conflict in the Peaceable Kingdom: The Attributes of International Terrorism in Canada, 1960-1990." Conflict Quarterly 14(3):36–62.
—— 1995. "The Rise and Fall of Quebecois Separatist Terrorism: A Qualitative Application of Factors from two Models." Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 18(4):285–97.
Canadian Incident Database — a publicly-accessible database describing terrorism and violent extremism incidents with a Canadian connection, between 1960 and early 2015.