A purported new Islamic State propaganda video features a Canadian man who threatens violence and 鈥減unishment鈥� against Canadians on their own soil.
In the video, distributed by a U.S. company that monitors jihadist posts around the world, the young man says others should follow the example of Martin Couture-Rouleau, who ran down and killed Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent in Quebec on Oct. 20.
The man identifies himself as Abu Anwar al-Canadi, but his real name is John Maguire. He studied at the University of Ottawa before 鈥渇alling off the map鈥� about two years ago, according to one fellow student.
In the six-minute , Maguire also references the attack on Parliament Hill and the National War Memorial, in which Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was killed.
Standing in the ruins of an unidentified town, Maguire rails against Canada鈥檚 involvement in the U.S.-led airstrikes against ISIS targets in Iraq.
鈥淚t should not surprise you when operations by the Muslims are executed where it hurts you the most 鈥� on your very own soil,鈥� he says in the video.
鈥淵our people will be indiscriminately targeted, as you indiscriminately target our people.鈥�
Looking into the camera, Maguire says: 鈥淚 was one of you. I was a typical Canadian.鈥�
He says he 鈥済rew up on the hockey rink,鈥� had a high GPA in university, and had no criminal record. He said he converted to Islam and accepted 鈥渢he true call of the prophets and the messengers of God.鈥�
Addressing Muslims living in Canada, Maguire says they have two options: either pack up and join the Islamic State, or follow Couture-Rouleau鈥檚 example.
麻豆影视 has not been able to independently verify the video. It鈥檚 not clear when it was recorded.
Maguire grew up in the small eastern Ontario town of Kemptville and graduated from Ottawa鈥檚 Hillcrest High School in 2008. He then studied at the University of Ottawa, where he was involved with the Muslim students association.
It鈥檚 not clear what happened to him after that.
鈥淗e kind of fell off the map,鈥� Adam Gilani, the former president of the University of Ottawa Muslim Students Association,
Gilani said he didn鈥檛 know Maguire very well, but spoke to him on several occasions on campus and at association events. He said Maguire seemed like a 鈥渢ypical鈥� student and did not set off any red flags.
Gilani confirmed Maguire is the man in the purported ISIS video.
But, he said, 鈥渋t鈥檚 definitely not the John Maguire that I used to see walking the halls of the University of Ottawa.鈥�
In response to the video, Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney issued a statement Sunday reaffirming Canada鈥檚 commitment to the anti-ISIS coalition.
鈥淭errorism remains a real and serious threat to Canadians, which is why we must remain vigilant,鈥� Blaney said.
鈥淭hat is why we are taking part in the coalition that is currently conducting air strikes against ISIL, and supporting the security forces in Iraq in their fight against this terrorist scourge.鈥�
Security officials believe that more than 140 Canadians have left the country to fight overseas.
Previously posted ISIS propaganda videos have also called for violence against Canadians and other American allies.
Terrorism expert Michael Zekulin, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, says the latest video seems to be trying to 鈥渇lip the narrative鈥� of a troubled, young Canadian joining ISIS.
By explicitly stating that he was a good student with no criminal record, the man in the video is trying to make a point about what kind of Canadian could turn against his own country, Zekulin told 麻豆影视 Channel.
