Categories
Perspectives

Today in Terrorism: November 22, 2009 – ‘Bicycle bombs’ in Northeastern India

On this day in 2009, seven people were killed and over 20 wounded when two bicycles kitted with explosives detonated in the Indian state of Assam.

Categories
Perspectives

Today in Terrorism: November 18, 2005 – Al Hamra Hotel bombing

On this day in 2005, a series of suicide bombing in Khanaqin, located northeast of the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad, killed at least 60 people.

Categories
Perspectives

When is an act of terrorism not an act of terrorism?

Many will jump to conclusions, sometimes based on preconceived notions or biases. Sometimes they will be right; sometimes they will be wrong. The consequences of getting it wrong are zero for the average person; they are higher for authorities.

Categories
Perspectives

September 24, 1981: Ottawa slaying of Turkish diplomat

In the late summer of 1982 I was driving back to London (Ontario) after having finished an intern job as a Spanish translator with the Multilingual Bureau at the Canadian Secretary of State department in what was then called Hull, Quebec (now known as Gatineau).  I had had my first real exposure to a government […]

Categories
Perspectives

Once more into the breach

I remember my very first day as an ‘insider’ in the Canadian intelligence community as if it were yesterday.  It was July 13,1983.  I had moved to Ottawa from my hometown of London (Ontario) to accept a job at CSE – Communications Security Establishment, Canada’s signals intelligence agency.  I had already been accorded a top […]

Categories
Perspectives

September 15, 2017: Parsons Green train bombing

On 15 September 2017, at around 08:20 BST, an explosion occurred on a District line train at Parsons Green Underground station, in London, England.

Categories
Perspectives

Does Canada have a problem prosecuting terrorism?

When you work in national security you do the best job you can to stop bad things from happening. If those bad things involve terrorism what you are trying to do is to prevent attacks from taking place. You identify potential terrorists, follow them, determine which ones are serious about actually doing something, run sources […]

Categories
Perspectives

A call for the end of blasphemy laws

When I was quite young, growing up in London (Ontario), an elderly man would make and take care of an outdoor ice rink for the neighbourhood kids. He would not charge anything for this and – yes I know this is nostalgic! – there is nothing better than playing hockey outside during a Canadian winter. […]

Categories
Perspectives

The power of terrorist propaganda

Years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Brian Jenkins at a conference in Washington. For those who are not familiar with Mr. Jenkins’ work you would be hard pressed to find a terrorism scholar and analyst more seasoned than him. He was examining and writing about terrorism well before 9/11 and is still active. […]

Categories
Perspectives

Why we must hold back on using the terrorism label

This piece appeared in The Hill Times on July 29, 2019. July 22 marks a somber anniversary in Canada. A year ago a large crowd was enjoying a summer’s evening on Toronto’s Danforth Ave., sitting in cafes, having dinner, spending time with friends and family. Around 10 PM a lone gunman was seen walking down […]