Police reassure public, Muslim community, after Edmonton attack
‘There’s always a risk of backlash,’ Islamic association official says
Saskatoon police are reaching out to members of the local Muslim community after a man in possession of an Islamic State group-type flag attacked a police officer in Edmonton and then attempted to run down pedestrians in a U-Haul truck.
Daniel Kuhlen with the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan condemned the attack and said the move by Saskatoon police is a sad but necessary step.
“There’s always a risk of backlash and that’s a concern,” Kuhlen said.
“For reasons that are obvious, everybody will probably have to be vigilant, taking common sense precautions to make sure that they’re keeping themselves and their families safe and co-operating with the authorities if there’s any sign of suspicion or if there’s any indication that somebody may be about to act or conduct themselves in a way that would be threatening or otherwise harmful.”
In an emailed statement Sunday, the Saskatoon Police Service sought to reassure citizens of Saskatoon.
“Our service is among the network of law enforcement agencies in Canada regularly updated by the RCMP who assess the national threat level. SPS members will remain vigilant and members of the public are asked to report any suspicious behaviour immediately,” the statement said.
“We are the process of reaching out to leaders with Saskatoon’s Muslim community to address any concerns they may have in light of the events in Edmonton.”
Kuhlen said it’s “really difficult to predict” whether people angered by the attack will take out their frustrations on members of the Islamic community.
“The fact of the matter is the overwhelming majority of people in the city and this province and, I suspect, in most places, know better than to ascribe an entire group with the characteristics or actions of one or two others, but there’s always a risk that somebody could do that,” he said.
On Sunday, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Canada condemned the attack in Edmonton and urged calm and patience as police continue their investigation.
“We are shocked and deeply grieved by the senseless attack that took place in Edmonton,” its national president, Lal Khan Malik, said in a statement.
“Our sincerest thoughts and prayers are with those injured and affected by this senseless act of violence.”
The statement by Saskatoon Police came less than 24 hours after a man in a white Chevy Malibu drove through a traffic barricade near Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium and struck a police officer on Saturday night. The man in the car — identified as Abdulahi Hasan Sharif from Somalia — then stabbed the officer multiple times before fleeing on foot.
Police officers identified the suspect in a U-Haul just before midnight on Saturday and chased the vehicle into downtown Edmonton. The U-Haul driver attempted to run down pedestrians before the U-Haul was knocked on its side and the driver arrested. Four people were struck and taken to hospital. Two pedestrians and the injured police officer had been released from hospital as of Sunday afternoon.
Edmonton police say they are treating the events as acts of terrorism.
In an online statement, Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark expressed his condolences to the people of Edmonton.
“This hits close to home, and I have learned how these acts of hate (terror, violent extremism — various names are applied — and the full investigation is underway) can have ripple effects throughout the whole community,” he wrote.
“We are working across the prairies and across Canada to build united and inclusive cities, and we have leaders and residents from all walks of life together on this path. This work is how we will fight against these divisive forces so they cannot take root in our communities.”
We are working across the prairies and across Canada to build united and inclusive cities … This work is how we will fight ...