EDMONTON – Edmonton residents can expect their police force to soon have a counter-terrorism unit.
Edmonton police Chief Rod Knecht says a counter-terrorism unit is a top priority because officers are already investigating an increased volume of cases, causing resources to be stretched thin.
Despite the need for a counter-terrorism unit, Knecht doesn’t believe Edmonton is a breeding ground for radicalization. He says social media has made it an issue everywhere.
READ MORE: Edmonton-area teen arrested on terror charges
In March, a teenager from Beaumont, a bedroom community south of Edmonton, was arrested and charged with trying to leave Canada to take part in terrorist activity.
The 17-year-old boy is facing charges of attempting to leave Canada to participate in activity of a terrorist group and attempting to leave Canada to commit offence that is terrorist activity.
READ MORE: Terrorist threat at West Edmonton Mall
In February, the Somali terror group Al Shabab issued a threat to shopping malls in Europe, the U.S. and Canada, including the West Edmonton Mall. The group posted a video of a masked fighter.
Edmonton police responded they were paying very close attention to the threat, but there was no imminent threat.
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