Canadian police are investigating two attacks as terrorism: A man struck an Edmonton police officer with a car, stabbed him, and four pedestrians were hurt.
Oct. 1 (UPI) — Canadian authorities announced an investigation into a pair of possible terrorist attacks on Sunday morning.
A man struck an Edmonton police officer with a car and stabbed him, and four pedestrians later were hit by a truck driving on a street.
An unidentified 30-year-old male driver was arrested two hours later after his vehicle overturned in a police chase late Saturday, police said. An Islamic State group flag was found in the car.
« We are urging Edmontonians to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings, » Edmonton Police Service Chief Rod Knecht said in a 3 a.m. news conference .
A police officer was controlling traffic at a Canadian Football League game around 8:15 p.m. on Saturday when he was hit by a white Chevrolet Malibu going at high speed through the traffic barricades and then attacked with a knife by the driver. The officer was hospitalized but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
Around midnight, police pulled over a U-Haul rental van. The officer noticed the driver’s name was « very similar » to that of the Malibu’s registered owner.
The driver took off and was pursued by police toward downtown Edmonton, and « throughout the chase, the truck deliberately tried to hit pedestrians in crosswalks. » Four people were hospitalized with unspecified injuries.
The van driver was arrested after a police chase.
« The driver was apprehended and taken into police custody, » Knecht said. « It is believed at this time that these two incidents are related. »
Police believe the suspect acted alone, but haven’t rule out involvement by others.
