Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has vowed to strengthen the nation’s terror laws one day after a gunman rampaged through parliament.
The leader said plans would be expedited to give more powers to surveillance and security agencies.
On Wednesday, a reported Muslim convert shot a soldier at an Ottawa war memorial before attacking parliament.
He was killed by Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers, who was greeted to a standing ovation on Thursday for his efforts.
It was the second attack on Canada’s military in three days.
Standing to address the MPs to warm applause, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s first words were: “I know we will always stand together.”
The objective of the attacks was to instil fear and panic in Canada, he said.
But he vowed to expedite security measures to toughen powers of surveillance and detention.
“They need to be much strengthened, and I assure you, Mr Speaker, that work which is already under way will be expedited,” Mr Harper said.
“We will be vigilant, but we will not run scared. We will be prudent, but we will not panic,” he added.
On Monday, another soldier was killed in a hit-and-run in the province of Quebec.
Mr Harper described the perpetrator, who was shot dead, as an “ISIL-inspired terrorist”.
Canada recently announced plans to join the US-led campaign of air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq but no link to IS or the new military campaign has been confirmed by police investigating the latest attack.
The leader said plans would be expedited to give more powers to surveillance and security agencies.
On Wednesday, a reported Muslim convert shot a soldier at an Ottawa war memorial before attacking parliament.
He was killed by Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers, who was greeted to a standing ovation on Thursday for his efforts.
It was the second attack on Canada’s military in three days.
Standing to address the MPs to warm applause, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s first words were: “I know we will always stand together.”
The objective of the attacks was to instil fear and panic in Canada, he said.
But he vowed to expedite security measures to toughen powers of surveillance and detention.
“They need to be much strengthened, and I assure you, Mr Speaker, that work which is already under way will be expedited,” Mr Harper said.
“We will be vigilant, but we will not run scared. We will be prudent, but we will not panic,” he added.
On Monday, another soldier was killed in a hit-and-run in the province of Quebec.
Mr Harper described the perpetrator, who was shot dead, as an “ISIL-inspired terrorist”.
Canada recently announced plans to join the US-led campaign of air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq but no link to IS or the new military campaign has been confirmed by police investigating the latest attack.
No comments:
Post a Comment