Canada’s threat level unchanged after Edmonton attack

Despite a terror attack in Edmonton, Canada’s national threat level will remain at medium, according to federal Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale.

An Edmonton police officer was hit by a vehicle and stabbed multiple times, and four other citizens were hit by a U-Haul truck.

Police have a 30-year-old Edmonton man in custody.  Charges of terrorism and attempted murder are pending against the suspect who CTV News identified as Abdulahi Sharif.

RCMP said the suspect is a Somali national who was in the process of making a refugee claim. The RCMP assistant commissioner also said the man had been known to police since 2015.

At this point, Goodale said the country’s threat level will remain at medium, where it has been since the fall of 2014.

“There is nothing that has come to their attention to this point that would lead them to believe that the threat level needs to be adjusted,” Goodale said.

He said many different agencies are constantly monitoring and assessing the level as needed.

Goodale added that the investigation into the incident is still in the early stages.

“It is very important for police authorities and security authorities and the general public to assure themselves that their circumstances are safe and secure, so every appropriate precaution in the hours after this kind of event, every such precaution is obviously being taken.”

He said the RCMP is working with Edmonton police in the investigation.

Goodale said it appears that the attack was carried out by a lone person.

He couldn’t say if this was a case where the individual had become radicalized but admitted it is a very serious concern.

“There is a lot more work that needs to be done but it needs to be an important priority for every community, for every level of government and, quite frankly, for countries around the world, this has to be strong international collaboration because it’s a risk.”

Goodale said it’s important that these type of attacks don’t divide the country.

“We also need to make sure that our way of life, that the inclusive nature of our communities and of our society is not contorted by this and that we are not left divided and that our strong conviction that diversity is our strength is not diminished.”

The officer and citizens injured are in hospital recovering.

Edmonton police are expected to provide an update on the incident Sunday afternoon.