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When Criminals Become Terrorists: Declassified Report Reveals How Canadians Move to Terrorism

When Criminals Become Terrorists: Declassified Report Reveals How Canadians Move to Terrorism

Created: Thursday, July 19, 2018 - 15:22
Categories:
Intelligence, Physical Security, Security Preparedness

According to a declassified Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) report, about a quarter of Canadians involved in terrorist activity have criminal histories. The individuals “engaged in a wide spectrum of illicity acitivities,” the most common of which were low-level crimes and assaults. According to the report, criminals are attracted to terrorism because it offers violence, status, and adventure and because it provides a way to atone for or to reframe their actions in a more positive light. The report also makes comparisons between how criminals moved to terrorism in Canada vs. in Europe. One finding is that mobilization to terrorism among Canadians with criminal histories is much slower than their European counterparts, who appear to make direct jumps. Global News.