A Canadian hit and run attack targeting two soldiers on Monday near a Montreal parking lot mall has killed one of the victims. The other officer involved in the accident is said to be recovering from less serious wounds.
The deceased solider, whose name the Quebec police has withheld as per the request of his family, died on Tuesday from complications resulting from the Canada hit and run attack.
Meanwhile, the 25-years-old suspect, Martin Rouleau, who is believed to have ties with radical Islamist groups was later shot and killed. Reports indicate that he fled the scene and led the police on a car chase in the Southeast of the City after the Canada hit and run incident.
Lt. Michel Brunet said Mr. Rouleau came out of his vehicle and was shot.
Reports indicate that the police have found a knife near the suspect's vehicle. It is unclear why he had it and what he intended to do with it.
"This individual was known to federal authorities, including our integrated national security investigations team in Montreal, who along with authorities were concerned that he had become radicalized," the RCMP said in a statement about the Canadian hit and run attack.
The parking lot, where the soldiers were struck down in the Canada hit and run incident, serves several provisional, military, federal as well as commercial offices. Reports indicate that after the Canada hit and run attack, police officers close-by spotted Mr. Rouleau and chased him for about four kilometers.
It is still unclear why Mr. Rouleau targeted the two soldiers in the Canada hit and run attack as they were not in their uniforms. The police are reportedly investigating how the suspect was able to identify them.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper described the incident as troubling after being briefed about the details of the crime by the head of the country's police force.
"First and foremost our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families; we're closely monitoring the situation and obviously we will make available all of the resources of the federal government," Harper said in a statement.
Canada is part of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State by droning their bases and providing moderate rebels and Kurdish soldiers with weapons against the terrorist organization. ISIS has in turn repeatedly called for attacks against these countries; officials suspect that the Canada hit and run attack may be one of these retaliatory strikes.
