Canada to use counseling to stop would-be jihadists at home
1 Nov 2014 5:14 AM IST
Canadian law enforcement officials plan to use counseling to help stop would-be jihadists and could even help them find jobs - an effort that has added urgency after two armed men killed two soldiers in separate attacks in Canada last week.
The effort is being modeled on Britain’s de-radicalization program, dubbed Prevent, which was implemented after the 2005 London bombings in which four young Britons killed 52 people. Prevent, however, has been widely criticized as ineffective.Canadian authorities say their program, to be launched by the end of the year, will complement more traditional counter-terrorism efforts by making it easier for police to find extremists and keep them from acting out.
‘Historically, efforts for safeguarding Canada’s national security used to be primarily focused on enforcement and disruption,’ said Sgt. Greg Cox, a spokesman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which is spearheading the effort. But the RCMP is now also focusing on ways to counter ‘the dangerous narrative employed by violent extremist groups,’ he said.The work comes as Canada faces a growing threat from homegrown jihadist some 130 Canadians have traveled abroad to fight with groups like Islamic State, of whom 80 have returned home, according to intelligence officials.Law enforcement officials in Canada, the United States and Europe are particularly worried about individuals who are self-radicalized and can go undetected until they launch a so-called ‘lone wolf’ attack.
The effort is being modeled on Britain’s de-radicalization program, dubbed Prevent, which was implemented after the 2005 London bombings in which four young Britons killed 52 people. Prevent, however, has been widely criticized as ineffective.Canadian authorities say their program, to be launched by the end of the year, will complement more traditional counter-terrorism efforts by making it easier for police to find extremists and keep them from acting out.
‘Historically, efforts for safeguarding Canada’s national security used to be primarily focused on enforcement and disruption,’ said Sgt. Greg Cox, a spokesman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which is spearheading the effort. But the RCMP is now also focusing on ways to counter ‘the dangerous narrative employed by violent extremist groups,’ he said.The work comes as Canada faces a growing threat from homegrown jihadist some 130 Canadians have traveled abroad to fight with groups like Islamic State, of whom 80 have returned home, according to intelligence officials.Law enforcement officials in Canada, the United States and Europe are particularly worried about individuals who are self-radicalized and can go undetected until they launch a so-called ‘lone wolf’ attack.
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