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Hit-and-run attack in Canada raises terror concerns

The man was shot and killed by police after he struck two soldiers with his car.

By Ed Adamczyk
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. UPI/Debbie Hill
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. UPI/Debbie Hill | License Photo

MONTREAL, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- An incident in which two Canadian soldiers were struck by a car driven by a man described by police as a radicalized Muslim convert brought concerns over terrorism.

Questioned Monday in the House of Commons about "unconfirmed reports of a possible terror attack", Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he was troubled by the information.

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The suspect, Martin Rouleau, 25, was shot and killed by police Monday after hitting two unidentified soldiers in a Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, parking lot with his car. The community, near Montreal, is the site of several military installations.

Rouleau engaged municipal police in a high-speed chase and died in a hospital after he was shot. The police said both men struck by the car were hospitalized, and one later died. A statement, late Monday, from Harper's office indicated Rouleau was known to the antiterrorism program of the RCMP, the Canadian federal police. "Federal authorities have confirmed that there are clear indications that the individual had become radicalized," the statement said.

The RCMP said Rouleau converted to Islam a year ago. A French-language division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., Radio-Canada, reported Rouleau identified himself on his Facebook page as "Ahmad LeConverti" ("Ahmad the Converted").

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