ABOVE: Chief Rick Hanson speaks about a Calgary connection to one of three Ottawa men charged with terrorism in connection with ISIS recruitment.
CALGARY – Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson is speaking out about an Ontario terrorism suspect’s recently uncovered Calgary connection.
One of three Ottawa men charged with terrorism in connection with ISIS recruitment is also a wanted man in Calgary. Khadar Hassan Khalib, 23, was charged in September 2012 for shoplifting under $5,000 at a Bay store location in the Calgary area, and failed to attend his scheduled October court appearance.
Khalib was charged in absentia Tuesday with leaving Canada to participate in, counselling a person to participate in and conspiring to participate or to contribute in an activity of a terrorist group. RCMP said he travelled to Syria to fight with ISIS, also known as the Islamic State.
“The fact is they’re very good at recruiting,” said Hanson of ISIS, while appearing on the Global Calgary Morning News on Thursday. “It appeals to some young men, and in some cases some young women as well.”
“Canada is not the safe haven that it used to be,” said Hanson. “It will be, for years to come, vulnerable to this type of thing.”
He suggests early intervention is key, similar to gang prevention.
“Young kids, if you’re not careful, grow up into angry adults.”
“We’re working really closely with the school boards,” said Hanson, who remains positive about the future. “We’ve got great partnerships with community neighbourhood services and we’ve met with parents and members of Calgary’s diverse communities.”
“The willingness of the various communities to meet with us and to figure out conjoint solutions to these kinds of things is really kind of gratifying.”
– With files from Erika Tucker
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