Canadian soldier in apparent IS attack dies

OTTAWA: One of two Canadian soldiers run down by a car driven by a suspected Islamic State (IS) militant has died, police said on Tuesday, the first such incident in Canada since the country joined the fight against IS militants.
A police spokesman said the soldier died late on Monday. His name, age or rank were not released. The soldier was one of two walking near a Quebec strip mall when they were run down by the car.
Quebec police shot and killed the 25-year-old driver after a chase following the incident on Monday.
The office of Prime Minister Stephen Harper later said the driver was known to federal authorities and there were clear indications he had become “radicalized.”
The Canadian government did not explain what it meant by radicalized, but it has used the term to refer to Canadians who supported militant groups.
The incident took place in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, around 40 km southeast of Montreal.
Canadian media, citing police sources, identified the driver as Martin Couture-Rouleau, a resident of the Quebec town.
Reuters was unable to verify the identity of the driver.
A neighbor, speaking on condition that her name not be used, told Reuters that Rouleau became radicalized about a year ago after getting involved with extremists.
Asked whether the victims had been targeted, a spokesman for the Surete du Quebec, the provincial police, told Reuters on Monday that was one of several theories but stressed it would take the police days to determine what had happened.
Canadian security officials have been worried for years about the potential threat of radicalized young men.
Canada is sending six fighter jets to take part in the US-led campaign against IS militants in Iraq.