This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/22/ottawa-shootings-canadian-intelligence-failure

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Ottawa shootings: a spectacular failure for Canadian intelligence Ottawa shootings: a spectacular failure for Canadian intelligence
(about 1 hour later)
They brought the war to Canada.They brought the war to Canada.
That’s the thought running through the heads of many Canadians as the national capital remained in lockdown into Wednesday evening, following an assault on the national parliament amid a debate on whether to engage Isis in Iraq and how to defend against Islamic extremism at home.That’s the thought running through the heads of many Canadians as the national capital remained in lockdown into Wednesday evening, following an assault on the national parliament amid a debate on whether to engage Isis in Iraq and how to defend against Islamic extremism at home.
But it’s the fightback that will be treacherous for the government of Stephen Harper. Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, armed with a high-powered rifle, drove to Parliament Hill, left his car running, shot a ceremonial guard at the nearby National War Memorial, before heading to the seat of Canada’s democracy, where he was gunned down by the head of security for the building.
Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, armed with a high-powered rifle, drove to Parliament Hill, left his car running, and shot a ceremonial guard at the nearby National War Memorial, before heading to the seat of Canada’s democracy, where he was gunned down by the head of security for the building. In a room just a few metres from where the gunman fell, prime minister Stephen Harper was discussing how to respond to the increased threat of homegrown terrorism with members of his party. That response will be even more treacherous now.
My day should have began with a walk through the Hall of Honour, the grand, central cermonial hall at the heart of parliament. That’s where the shootings in began and, seemingly, ended. Other journalists had assembled there for “outs” — our attempt to catch ministers and MPs as they leave their weekly caucus meeting in rooms adjacent to the hall. Instead, I was upstairs trying to grab breakfast. As I headed down, a member of parliament frantically opened the door to the stairs, desperately warning that a shooter was on the loose. My day should have begun with a walk through the Hall of Honour, the grand, central ceremonial hall at the heart of parliament. That’s where the shootings began and, seemingly, ended. Other journalists had assembled there for “outs” — our attempt to catch ministers and MPs as they leave their weekly caucus meeting in rooms adjacent to the hall. Instead, I was upstairs trying to grab breakfast. As I headed down, a member of parliament frantically opened the door to the stairs, desperately warning that a shooter was on the loose.
Since then, I’ve been barricaded in a room, with a government minister, other MPs and staffers, all waiting to be evacuated.Since then, I’ve been barricaded in a room, with a government minister, other MPs and staffers, all waiting to be evacuated.
Before the shots rang out, and just a few steps away, the prime minister and his caucus were discussing how best to tackle the growing scourge of homegrown terrorism. That discussion was spurred by an attack against Canadian military personal on Monday, and increasingly urgent reports from Canada’s intelligence agencies that the homegrown terror threat was very real. Before the shots rang out, and just a few steps away, the prime minister and his caucus were discussing how best to tackle the growing scourge of homegrown terrorism. That discussion was spurred by an attack against Canadian military personal on Monday, and amid increasingly urgent reports from Canada’s intelligence agencies that the homegrown terror threat was very real.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) released a report this month, saying it had identified 90 radicalized Canadians who were either trying to leave Canada and fight for Isis in Iraq, or that planning to launch attacks in Canada. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) released a report this month, saying it had identified 90 radicalized Canadians who were either trying to leave Canada and fight for the Islamic State (Isis) militants in Iraq, or planning to launch attacks in Canada.
One such radical was Martin Rouleau-Couture, a Quebecer who had converted to Islam and had already attempted to travel Iraq to fight with Isis there. He killed a veteran member of the Canadian Forces in an attack near a Quebec military base on Monday. One such radical was Martin Rouleau-Couture, a Quebecer who had converted to Islam and had already attempted to travel Iraq to fight with Isis there. He killed a veteran member of the Canadian forces in an attack near a Quebec military base on Monday.
It was not clear on Tuesday night whether Zehaf-Bibeau was on that list as well. It was not clear on Wednesday night whether Zehaf-Bibeau was on that list too.
These two attacks constitute a spectacular failure for CSIS, which had claimed to be actively protecting the country against a plethora of terrorist threats.These two attacks constitute a spectacular failure for CSIS, which had claimed to be actively protecting the country against a plethora of terrorist threats.
While the threat level was raised in the day prior to the attack, there appeared to be no serious escalation in security near parliament. In a committee hearing earlier in the month, the director of CSIS promised parliamentarians that that the threat was real, but not imminent. While the threat level was raised in the day before Wednesday’s attack, there appeared to be no serious escalation in security near parliament. In a committee hearing earlier in the month, the director of CSIS promised parliamentarians that that the threat was real, but not imminent.
The new legislation being pondered by Harper’s government would reportedly expand the powers of CSIS to investigate, apprehend and detain homegrown terrorists.The new legislation being pondered by Harper’s government would reportedly expand the powers of CSIS to investigate, apprehend and detain homegrown terrorists.
Early reports of the yet-to-be-introduced legislation indicate that CSIS wants the power to take advantage of the so-called “Five Eyes” spy network to which Canada, the United Kingdom, America, Australia and New Zealand all belong. The service is also request more power to track Canadians they believe have been radicalized, and to take more advantage of anonymous sources. Early reports of the yet-to-be-introduced legislation indicate that CSIS wants the power to take advantage of the so-called “Five Eyes” spy network to which Canada, the United Kingdom, America, Australia and New Zealand all belong. The service is also requesting more power to track Canadians they believe have been radicalized, and to take more advantage of anonymous sources.
But given that the government has already given the spy agencies ever-more power in recent years, questions remain about why there is even a need for more tools. But given that the government has already accorded the spy agencies ever-more powers in recent years, questions remain about why there is even a need for more tools.
Powers crafted in 2012 enable law enforcement to arrest and prosecute Canadians who try to leave the country to fight for a terrorist organization. That raises the question of why Rouleau-Couture was not apprehended well before he carried out his attack. In addition to those powers, the law establishes secret courts to compel information about prospective terror attacks from material witnesses or accomplices. Powers crafted in 2012 enable law enforcement to arrest and prosecute Canadians who try to leave the country to fight for a terrorist organization. That raises the question of why Rouleau-Couture was not apprehended well before he carried out his attack on Monday. In addition to those powers, the law establishes secret courts to compel material witnesses or accomplices to divulge information about prospective terror attacks.
That legislation also give police the power to preventatively arrest would-be terrorists. In the coming days, it’s all but certain that those powers will be employed to ensure that copycat attacks won’t be launched against other installations across the country.That legislation also give police the power to preventatively arrest would-be terrorists. In the coming days, it’s all but certain that those powers will be employed to ensure that copycat attacks won’t be launched against other installations across the country.