He was a Somali Muslim refugee with an ISIS flag in his car who carried out an attack exactly like those of other Muslim terrorists. Also he had been investigated in the past. But let's not jump to any fully accurate conclusions.
@edmontonpolice urge the public not to make broad assumptions in regards to religion, race, or nationality in light of #Edmontonattack.
Not making any of those assumptions is how the latest attack and all the previous ones happened. So let me make a broad assumption. Somalia really ought to be high on the list of countries that ought to have zero refugees and zero travel of any kind. Here's another reminder why.
EDMONTON, Alberta (Reuters) - A Somali refugee who had been on a watch list over extremist views faced five counts of attempted murder and terror charges on Sunday after Canadian police said he stabbed a police officer and ran down four pedestrians with a car in Edmonton, Alberta.
The suspect, a 30-year-old man whom police did not identify,
had been investigated two years ago for promoting extremist ideology but was not deemed a threat, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said.
RCMP Assistant Commissioner Marlin Degrand said an “exhaustive investigation” into the man in 2015 did not uncover sufficient evidence to pursue charges.
Canadian media identified the suspect as Abdulahi Hasan Sharif, although Reuters was not immediately able to confirm his identity.
Instead he was allowed to stay in Canada until the suspicions were confirmed. But let's not make any assumptions here.
When asked if they could confirm that a manifesto with anti-Semitic writing was found during the investigation, Degrand and Knecht declined to answer. That is “information we have to be a little careful about, because we do have to guard the integrity of the court process going forward,” Degrand told reporters at a press conference.
Yes, we must protect the integrity of the court process. By hiding as many of the damning facts as possible.
At a later press conference, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner Marlin Degrand said that Sharif was investigated by the RCMP in 2015 after a complaint was made that he was “espousing extremist ideology.” Sharif and others were interviewed by investigators. At the end of the “exhaustive investigation,” police found there was “insufficient evidence” to pursue terrorism charges or a peace bond, Degrand said.
This is what happens when you avoid any broad assumptions about what his views might lead to.
He said that the suspect was “deemed not to pose a threat to the national security of Canada.” Degrand said the investigation found no signs the suspect would commit an act of violence.
Aside from his views. And investigating those would have made the interfaith Iftar dinner most uncomfortable.
These views, which didn't give anyone reason to think he might be violent, were genocidal and rather ISIS-like.
The co-worker said Sharif would play broadcasts in Arabic while they worked at the construction site. When Sharif started talking to him about his hatred of Shiite Muslims and support for well-known ISIS leaders, the co-worker decided he needed to do something, he said.
He said he reported Sharif to Edmonton police, who passed him onto the RCMP. He was later interviewed by RCMP at K Division headquarters near downtown Edmonton, he said.
There was no reason to think his genocidal support of ISIS might lead him to commit violence.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement Sunday.
“We cannot – and will not – let violent extremism take root in our communities. We know that Canada’s strength comes from our diversity, and we will not be cowed by those who seek to divide us or promote fear.”
Whatever you do to us, we will never stop believing that diversity is our strength. Or our stupidity. One of those.