‘Radicalised’ driver runs down Canadian soldiers

One of two Canadian soldiers hit by a car in a city near Montreal has died and authorities are examining whether the driver’s links to radical Islam spurred the attack.

Officers by the car of Martin Rouleau. Picture: Reuters

Quebec provincial police spokeswoman Genevieve Bruno confirmed yesterday one of the two soldiers died from his injuries. She said the other soldier’s injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

The soldier’s name was not released at the request of the 
family, she said.

The suspect, Martin Couture Rouleau, 25, was shot by police following a car chase and later died.

An official familiar with the case confirmed the suspect’s name and that he had fallen under the influence of radical Islam.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly about the case.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesman David Falls said the suspect “was known to federal authorities” and “authorities were concerned that he had become radicalised”.

Police declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing investigation.

Neighbours, who declined to be identified, told reporters that Rouleau converted to Islam a little over a year ago. Since then, they said, he had begun spending more time alone, grown out his beard and swapped jeans for a tunic.

There was no answer at Rouleau’s suburban home in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, yesterday morning, and no sign of police.

Quebec provincial police Lieutenant Michel Brunet said the suspect fled the scene of the attack and was pursued by police for about 2½miles before he lost control of the car, which rolled over several times.

Police shot him after he got out of the car.

Lt Brunet said they found a knife on the ground but he could not say if the suspect had it in his hand when police opened fire. Television images showed a large knife in the grass near the upturned car.

Lt Brunet said he did not know if the soldiers were wearing uniforms at the time they were struck.

Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper was briefed about the incident by the head of Canada’s national police force, the head of the military and his national security adviser.

Mr Harper said on Monday in parliament that he was aware of the reports and called them 
“extremely troubling”.

“First and foremost our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families; we’re closely monitoring the situation and obviously we will make available all of the resources of the federal government,” he said.

The case is similar to one in London last year in which an al-Qaeda-inspired extremist and another man ran over Drummer Lee Rigby with a car before 
hacking to death the off-duty soldier.

Images of Michael Adebolajo, 29, holding a butcher knife and cleaver with bloodied hands in the moments after the May 2013 killing of Fusilier Rigby shocked people around the world and sparked fears of Islamist terrorism in Britain. 

The Islamic State group has urged supporters to carry out attacks against western countries – including Canada – participating in the US-led coalition fighting the militants who have taken over large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.

It was not known whether the suspect in the Quebec attack had any ties to Islamist militant groups.