Islamic States call for domestic attacks has troubled security officials

OTTAWAHow do you stop someone with a weapon and a mission?

That has been the fear among security and intelligence officials in recent weeks as the so-called Islamic State called for attacks at home.

It is the easiest form of terrorism no need for sophisticated plots, or training, or financing but as Wednesdays killing of Cpl. Nathan Frank Cirillo in the heart of Canadas capital showed, even simple attacks can elicit the widespread panic and attention these groups crave.

Many details about Cirillos killing and the motives of the shooter, identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, are still unknown. Was there any connection to Martin Couture-Rouleau, 25, who killed 53-year-old Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent Monday in a hit-and-run in Quebec? Did Zehaf-Bibeau have any ties abroad?

But no matter the connections, followers of the Islamic State (also known as ISIS and ISIL) benefited from the worldwide attention as they gloated on social media soon after Cirillos death. Canada getting a taste of their own medicine? wrote one. Another prolific ISIS supporter wrote: Canada starting to pay the price of intervention.

Along with spreading panic, terrorism is intended to deliver a message, and the message seems clear: Canadas military involvement in the campaign against ISIS will be punished.

Military institutions and personnel have always also been seen as targets since Canadas involvement in the war in Afghanistan. CFB Borden, a base north of Toronto, was one of the targets of the so-called Toronto 18 terrorism plot that was thwarted in 2006.

Following the killing of a British soldier in Woolwich last year, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service issued a threat assessment focusing on vulnerabilities of Canadian forces.

Simple, straightforward attacks using readily available weapons and minimal preparations on undefended targets are a better match with the actual capabilities of most extremists, reads the threat assessment that seemed to foreshadow the events this week. Zehaf-Bibeau killed with a rifle; Couture-Rouleau with a car.

The threat level only increased with Canadas high-profile role in fighting ISIS and the contribution of air support and small force of military advisers.

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Islamic States call for domestic attacks has troubled security officials