Ontario police on alert after Islamic State threats
At least one Canadian law enforcement agency is urging its officers to be extra vigilant in the wake of the release of a speech from the Islamic State extremist group earlier this week urging attacks on Canada and other western countries, including their police forces.
A security bulletin titled “Officer Safety: Jihadists Threats to Police” obtained by Postmedia News was sent to members of the Ontario Provincial Police on Wednesday.
It states that while there is no information about direct threats to Canada, “a possibility exists that IS supporters in Ontario may be inspired to commit such (violent) acts as a result of the recently released video.”
OPP spokesman Sgt. Peter Leon confirmed Friday that the bulletin was issued this week for reasons of officer safety.
In a 42-minute audio recording released late Sunday, a spokesman for Islamic State, the militant group controlling parts of Iraq and Syria, called on Muslims to kill anyone whose country was taking part in a U.S.-led coalition to fight the group, including Canadians.
“Rely upon Allah, and kill him in any manner or way however it may be. Do not ask anyone’s advice and do not seek anyone’s verdict. Kill the disbeliever whether he is civilian or military, for they have the same ruling,” the message said.
Followers were urged to “strike their police, security and intelligence members, as well as their treacherous agents.”
“This explicit threat to police needs to be taken very seriously,” the OPP memo states, referring to an incident earlier this week in which two Australian officers were reportedly lured to the front of their station and attacked by a knife-wielding man “with jihadist ties.” The attacker was shot dead and the officers survived.
“This demonstrates clear intention to target, kill and decapitate front line officers and that prior planning was involved,” the OPP memo states.
Canada is currently contemplating a larger role in the Middle East crisis with Prime Minister Stephen Harper telling reporters Friday “we don’t just stand on the sidelines.”