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Ottawa Shooting Is Latest in Growing List of Attacks Linked to Extremism Ottawa Shooting Is Latest in Growing Number of Attacks Linked to Extremism
(1 day later)
The Canadian authorities identified the gunman in Wednesday’s deadly shooting of a soldier guarding the National War Memorial in Ottawa as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a Canadian born in 1982. Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau, who had a criminal record, recently converted to Islam, senior American law enforcement officials said. He was shot and killed in the attack. The Canadian authorities identified the gunman who fatally shot a soldier guarding the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Wednesday as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a Canadian born in 1982. Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau, who had a criminal record, had recently converted to Islam, senior American law enforcement officials said. He was shot and killed in the attack.
The episode was the second deadly assault on a uniformed member of Canada’s armed forces in three days, and the latest in a growing list of attacks in the West against soldiers, and in some cases civilians, by individuals who have professed their affinity for radical Islam or sympathy to militant ideology. The episode was the third deadly assault on people in uniform in North America this week, and the latest in a growing list of attacks in the West against soldiers, and in some cases civilians, by individuals who have professed affinity for radical Islam or sympathy for militant ideology. Recent attacks also raise new fears of the Islamic State’s influence on so-called lone-wolf assailants.
Oct. 24, 2014: Hatchet-Wielding Man Charges Four New York Officers
A man identified as Zale H. Thompson, 32, attacked four rookie New York City police officers as they posed for photographs in Queens, injuring two of them before he was fatally shot. The man had served in the Navy and had a criminal record in Ventura, Calif.
According to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activity, a commenter named Zale Thompson made remarks seemingly sympathetic to violent jihad in a YouTube video. “If the Zionists and the Crusaders had never invaded and colonized the Islamic lands after WW1, then there would be no need for jihad!” the commenter wrote. “Which is better, to sit around and do nothing, or to jihad?”
Oct. 20, 2014: Hit-and-Run Kills Canadian SoldierOct. 20, 2014: Hit-and-Run Kills Canadian Soldier
Martin Rouleau-Couture drove his car into two Canadian soldiers, killing one of them, at a strip mall in St.-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. The authorities suggested that it was a terrorist attack, but little had emerged about the motives of Mr. Rouleau, who converted to Islam last year. Martin Rouleau-Couture drove his car into two Canadian soldiers, killing one of them, at a strip mall in St.-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. The authorities suggested that it was a terrorist attack, but little has emerged about the motives of Mr. Rouleau, who converted to Islam last year.
Mr. Rouleau’s Facebook postings had extolled Islamic State violence, expressed anti-Semitic sentiments and denigrated Christianity. His family, the police and the imam at the mosque where he prayed were aware of his possible radicalization. Canadian officials told Mr. Rouleau’s Facebook postings had extolled Islamic State violence, expressed anti-Semitic sentiments and denigrated Christianity. His family, the police and the imam at the mosque where he prayed were aware of his possible radicalization. Canadian officials told NBC News reported that Mr. Rouleau was “one of the 90 individuals the government had already announced it was monitoring.”
NBC News that Mr. Rouleau was “one of the 90 individuals the government had already announced it was monitoring.”
Sept. 25, 2014: Woman Is Beheaded in OklahomaSept. 25, 2014: Woman Is Beheaded in Oklahoma
The police said a man beheaded a co-worker at a food processing plant in Oklahoma before he was shot and wounded by a company executive. The suspect was identified as Alton Nolen. Mr. Nolen, who had a criminal history, “recently started trying to convert some of his co-workers to the Muslim religion,” said Jeremy Lewis, a spokesman for the police in Moore, Okla. The police in Moore, Okla., said a man beheaded a co-worker at a food-processing plant before he was shot and wounded by a company executive. The suspect was identified as Alton Nolen. Mr. Nolen, who had a criminal history, “recently started trying to convert some of his co-workers to the Muslim religion,” said Jeremy Lewis, a spokesman for the police.
Law enforcement officials said that Mr. Nolen had recently converted to Islam, but that the F.B.I. had found no connection between him and the Islamic State or other terrorist groups. Law enforcement officials said that he had recently converted to Islam, but that the F.B.I. found no connection between him and the Islamic State or other terrorist groups.
Sept. 26, 2014: ISIS Lieutenant Tries to Coordinate Attacks in AustraliaSept. 26, 2014: ISIS Lieutenant Tries to Coordinate Attacks in Australia
Mohammad Ali Baryalei, a former Sydney nightclub bouncer who is now an Islamic State lieutenant, made a phone call to a 22-year-old Sydney man and asked him to carry out a beheading in Australia on camera, the police said.Mohammad Ali Baryalei, a former Sydney nightclub bouncer who is now an Islamic State lieutenant, made a phone call to a 22-year-old Sydney man and asked him to carry out a beheading in Australia on camera, the police said.
It is one of the few known attempts by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, to carry out a terrorist act outside the Middle East.It is one of the few known attempts by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, to carry out a terrorist act outside the Middle East.
Days after the Sydney man was arrested, an 18-year-old man stabbed two counterterrorism officers outside Melbourne before one of the officers shot and killed him. The police described the man as a “known terror suspect” who had been seen carrying an Islamic State flag at a local shopping center.Days after the Sydney man was arrested, an 18-year-old man stabbed two counterterrorism officers outside Melbourne before one of the officers shot and killed him. The police described the man as a “known terror suspect” who had been seen carrying an Islamic State flag at a local shopping center.
May 24, 2014: 3 Shot Dead at Jewish Museum in BrusselsMay 24, 2014: 3 Shot Dead at Jewish Museum in Brussels
A gunman opened fire at the Jewish Museum in the center of Brussels, killing three people. A month later, the French authorities arrested Mehdi Nemmouche, a 29-year-old Frenchman with a long criminal history who had traveled to Syria last year to join radical Islamist fighters there. A gunman opened fire at the Jewish Museum in the center of Brussels, killing three people. A month later, French authorities arrested Mehdi Nemmouche, a 29-year-old Frenchman with a long criminal history who had traveled to Syria last year to join radical Islamist fighters there.
French and Belgian officials said evidence linked Mr. Nemmouche to the Islamic State, but details and his motivation were unclear.French and Belgian officials said evidence linked Mr. Nemmouche to the Islamic State, but details and his motivation were unclear.
Nicolas Henin, a French journalist held hostage for months by extremists in Syria, identified Mr. Nemmouche as one of his captors from July to December 2013. He recalled Mr. Nemmouche’s violent and sadistic personality.Nicolas Henin, a French journalist held hostage for months by extremists in Syria, identified Mr. Nemmouche as one of his captors from July to December 2013. He recalled Mr. Nemmouche’s violent and sadistic personality.
European officials said that the killings appeared to be the first committed in Europe by a European citizen returning from Syria.European officials said that the killings appeared to be the first committed in Europe by a European citizen returning from Syria.
May 22, 2013: Attack Near Military Barracks in South LondonMay 22, 2013: Attack Near Military Barracks in South London
Two British-born converts to Islam were found guilty of murdering a British soldier, who was run over with a car on a southeast London street and then hacked with knives and a meat cleaver as closed-circuit cameras recorded parts of the grisly scene.Two British-born converts to Islam were found guilty of murdering a British soldier, who was run over with a car on a southeast London street and then hacked with knives and a meat cleaver as closed-circuit cameras recorded parts of the grisly scene.
One of the two men, Michael Adebolajo, then 29, is of Nigerian descent with ties to Al Qaeda. He had been arrested by the Kenyan police on suspicion of planning to join the Shabab, an extremist group in Somalia. Two former leaders of Al Muhajiroun, an extremist group with a small following, told reporters that he was part of their circle.One of the two men, Michael Adebolajo, then 29, is of Nigerian descent with ties to Al Qaeda. He had been arrested by the Kenyan police on suspicion of planning to join the Shabab, an extremist group in Somalia. Two former leaders of Al Muhajiroun, an extremist group with a small following, told reporters that he was part of their circle.
In his defense, Mr. Adebolajo called himself a “soldier of Allah” and claimed that the killing had been an act of war. In his defense, he called himself a “soldier of Allah” and claimed that the killing had been an act of war.
No evidence was found that a third party had helped Mr. Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, 22, plan the killing, said Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, the head of the Metropolitan Police’s specialist operations.No evidence was found that a third party had helped Mr. Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, 22, plan the killing, said Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, the head of the Metropolitan Police’s specialist operations.
March 2012: Gunman Kills 7, Including 3 Soldiers, in FranceMarch 2012: Gunman Kills 7, Including 3 Soldiers, in France
Mohammed Merah, a self-proclaimed member of Al Qaeda, killed three French soldiers and, later, a rabbi and three Jewish children outside a Jewish day school in southwestern France.Mohammed Merah, a self-proclaimed member of Al Qaeda, killed three French soldiers and, later, a rabbi and three Jewish children outside a Jewish day school in southwestern France.
Mr. Merah, a French-Algerian dual citizen, was raised in a poor neighborhood outside Toulouse, spent time in prison and was believed to have traveled to Pakistan and Afghanistan for combat training with Islamist fighters. He was shot dead after a 30-hour standoff with police. Mr. Merah was known to domestic intelligence officials, having been put on a watch list several years before his rampage.Mr. Merah, a French-Algerian dual citizen, was raised in a poor neighborhood outside Toulouse, spent time in prison and was believed to have traveled to Pakistan and Afghanistan for combat training with Islamist fighters. He was shot dead after a 30-hour standoff with police. Mr. Merah was known to domestic intelligence officials, having been put on a watch list several years before his rampage.
In September, three Frenchmen suspected of having joined militants in Syria turned themselves in to the French authorities after a mix-up allowed them to walk free at the Marseille airport. Two had connections to Mr. Merah.In September, three Frenchmen suspected of having joined militants in Syria turned themselves in to the French authorities after a mix-up allowed them to walk free at the Marseille airport. Two had connections to Mr. Merah.
November 2009, July 2011 and April 2014: Fort Hood AttacksNovember 2009, July 2011 and April 2014: Fort Hood Attacks
On Nov. 5, 2009, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a United States Army psychiatrist, shot and killed 13 people and wounded 32 others at Fort Hood, Texas. An American-born Muslim of Palestinian descent, Major Hasan said he was driven by a hatred of American military action in the Muslim world and a desire to protect Taliban leaders in Afghanistan. He was sentenced to death. On Nov. 5, 2009, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a United States Army psychiatrist, shot and killed 13 people and wounded 32 others at Fort Hood, Tex. An American-born Muslim of Palestinian descent, Major Hasan said he was driven by a hatred of American military action in the Muslim world and a desire to protect Taliban leaders in Afghanistan. He was sentenced to death.
A 22-year-old Army private, Naser Jason Abdo, was arrested almost two years later and charged with trying to detonate an explosive device at a restaurant frequented by Fort Hood soldiers. Private Abdo was found in a hotel room near the base with a .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol, bomb-making materials and an article from the English-language Qaeda magazine Inspire that described how to make a bomb in a kitchen.A 22-year-old Army private, Naser Jason Abdo, was arrested almost two years later and charged with trying to detonate an explosive device at a restaurant frequented by Fort Hood soldiers. Private Abdo was found in a hotel room near the base with a .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol, bomb-making materials and an article from the English-language Qaeda magazine Inspire that described how to make a bomb in a kitchen.
In April, Specialist Ivan Lopez of the Army, who was being evaluated for post-traumatic stress disorder, opened fire at Fort Hood, killing three people and wounding 16 before killing himself.In April, Specialist Ivan Lopez of the Army, who was being evaluated for post-traumatic stress disorder, opened fire at Fort Hood, killing three people and wounding 16 before killing himself.
Though the attack was not linked to terrorism, Representative Michael McCaul, Republican of Texas and the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, said the three episodes at Fort Hood had given him concern that the base was “becoming a target for potential jihadists.” Though the attack was not linked to terrorism, Representative Michael McCaul, Republican of Texas and the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, said the three episodes at Fort Hood had made him concerned that the base was “becoming a target for potential jihadists.”
June 1, 2009: Gunman Kills Soldier Outside Arkansas Recruiting StationJune 1, 2009: Gunman Kills Soldier Outside Arkansas Recruiting Station
Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, a Tennessee man upset about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, opened fire on two soldiers, killing one and wounding another outside a military recruiting station in Little Rock, Ark.Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, a Tennessee man upset about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, opened fire on two soldiers, killing one and wounding another outside a military recruiting station in Little Rock, Ark.
Mr. Muhammad, who called himself a soldier in a Yemen-based affiliate of Al Qaeda, said the attack was in retribution for the killing of Muslims by American troops. In 2007, he traveled to Yemen where, over the course of 16 months, he taught English, learned Arabic, married a Yemeni woman and was imprisoned for several months because he overstayed his visa and was holding a fraudulent Somali passport, the Yemeni government said.Mr. Muhammad, who called himself a soldier in a Yemen-based affiliate of Al Qaeda, said the attack was in retribution for the killing of Muslims by American troops. In 2007, he traveled to Yemen where, over the course of 16 months, he taught English, learned Arabic, married a Yemeni woman and was imprisoned for several months because he overstayed his visa and was holding a fraudulent Somali passport, the Yemeni government said.