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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has referred to an incident that recently occurred in Edmonton – the stabbing of a police officer and a subsequent, high-speed car chase that resulted in four civilian injuries – as a “terrorist attack.”
The announcement has led to the city’s police calling for vigilance, its Muslim community expressing solidarity with the authorities, and the cancellation of a major event.
“While the investigation continues, early reports indicate that this is another example of the hate that we must remain ever vigilant against,” Trudeau said in a statement Sunday.
On Saturday night, a man driving a Chevrolet Malibu drove into a police officer just outside an Edmonton Eskimos Canadian Football League game. The assailant then emerged from his vehicle and proceeded to stab the officer before fleeing the scene, Edmonton Police Service Chief Rod Knecht revealed in a press conference Sunday.
The attacker then instigated a high-speed chase through the downtown area with the authorities on his tail, where he deliberately drove into pedestrians and managed to injure four civilians before he was finally apprehended.
The suspect is currently in custody and faces terrorism charges. The RCMP has confirmed that the suspect is a Somali national who was in the refugee claimant process and was known to the police. The police also found a flag associated with the Islamic State in the driver’s seat of the car used in the attack.
In a press conference Sunday, the police confirmed that the suspect had a complaint filed against him in 2015, which claimed that he espoused extremist ideology. He was investigated and no charges were filed.
CBC has identified that man as Abdulahi Hasan Sharif, but authorities say they will not confirm his identity.
Footage of the attack has been released to the public, with the police hoping that witnesses to the incident or those familiar with the suspect will come forward.
The officer who was stabbed has been released from the hospital after being treated for his injuries, as well as two of the four pedestrians who were hit by the assailant’s vehicle during the chase. The remaining two pedestrians are being held for observation.
On Sunday evening, 300 Edmontonians came together in Churchill Square to hold a vigil for the victims.
“We stand together,” said Edmonton mayor Don Iveson, who was present at the event. “All faiths, all cultures. We will not be divided.”
The city’s Muslim community also expressed solidarity with the community following the attack, denouncing the terror attack.
“What they are trying to do is divide us, but this will unite us, and we will overcome as Edmontonians, as Canadians, and most of all as human beings,” Ahmed Abdulkadir, who leads a Somali community organization, told VICE News Canada.
Following the attack, CBC announced that it is cancelling its “Night at the Needle” event, which was originally set for Monday evening.
The live event was set to address several of the area’s issues, such as homelessness, transportation and crime.
“We fully acknowledge some will feel we should have gone ahead with the event but after carefully considering all of the factors, we feel we’ve made the right decision,” the media company said in a statement.
“In the coming weeks, and on all of our platforms, we will continue to offer coverage and opportunities for Edmontonians to engage on the issues facing our downtown.
“Our hearts go out to the individuals and their families whose lives were affected by this tragic event.”
