OTTAWA — The fact Aaron Driver was able to plan a terrorist attack with explosives while under a peace bond has ignited debate about whether the court-ordered tool is an effective means of controlling radicalized people.
Peace bonds have been touted as a means for police to contain the threat from someone with jihadist sympathies when their behaviour falls short of the threshold for a criminal charge.
Under the terms of his peace bond, Driver was prohibited from using a computer or cellphone at his Strathroy, Ont., residence.
The RCMP candidly acknowledge Driver was not under constant surveillance and that only a tip from U.S. authorities alerted them to his plans.
He died in a confrontation with police Wednesday after climbing into a waiting taxi.
Phil Gurski, a former intelligence analyst who specializes in counter-radicalization efforts, says Canada needs a mature, reasoned debate about what tools security organizations require.
TRANSCRIPT OF AARON DRIVER'S MARTYRDOM VIDEO RELEASED THURSDAY BY POLICE
OTTAWA — Police aired a video Thursday showing slain terror suspect Aaron Driver railing against western "enemies of Islam," a video they believe was meant as a precursor to Driver's plan to detonate a bomb in a Canadian urban centre.
Here is a transcript of the English-language audio on the video:
"Oh Canada, you received many warnings. You were told many times what will become of those who fight against the Islamic State. You watched as your allies in Europe and America had their bullets and bombs returned back to them. You saw bodies of the filthy French laying in their own streets.
You saw explosions in Paris and Brussels, similar to the explosions they were dropping on citizens of the Islamic State. You saw brave men and women respond to the call of jihad. You saw that each member of the coalition of crusaders was being punished for their aggression against the Muslims. Then, perhaps, you found yourself safe from retaliation because you ran away from the battlefield. No, no by Allah you still have much to pay for.
You still have a heavy debt which has to be paid. You still have Muslim blood on your hands, and for this we are thirsty for your blood. There's a fire burning in the chest of every Muslim, and this fire can be cooled only by the spilling of your blood. Your war on Islam is not the kind of crime we allow ourselves to dismiss, to forgive or to forget, insha'Allah.
You will pay for everything you ever brought against us. Whether you drop a bomb or fire a single bullet, we will hold you accountable for this, insha'Allah. Whether you spend millions in the war against Islam or you spend a single cent, we will hold you accountable, insha'Allah.
When you creep an inch towards the lands of Islam or you set foot over its boundaries, we will hold you accountable, insha'Allah.
You call yourselves peacekeepers on this Earth, but (Allah) has already warned us against you. You're nothing but mischief-makers, and all you do is spread oppression and corruption. So today is the day you experience what it's like to be targeted for your belief, insha'Allah.
I give my pledge of allegiance to (ISIL leader) Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi ... who's called for jihad in the lands of crusaders, and I respond to this call."
