"Then Spit In His Face"

"The individual who struck the two CAF [Canadian Armed Forces] members with his car is known to federal authorities, including the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team."
"Federal authorities have confirmed that there are clear indications that the individual had become radicalized. As Canada’s national security agencies have said, Canadians should remain vigilant."
Jason MacDonald, spokesman, Prime Minister Harper

"We are aware of these reports. They’re obviously extremely troubling … We’re closely monitoring the situation and obviously we will make available all of the resources of the federal government."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, House of Commons, Question Period, Monday, 20 October

From Ummaland social network for Muslims: "Ahmed the Convert"

On Monday, a 25-year-old man from Quebec who had converted to Islam, appears to have deliberately targeted two Canadian servicemen who were in a mall in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, with his vehicle. Of the two men struck by the vehicle one at least is in very serious condition. It might appear at this moment that this man, who evidently is known to security forces in Canada, took very seriously the instructions issued over social media by Islamic State in their propaganda message.

“Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car, or throw him down from a high place, or choke him, or poison him.”
“If you are unable to do so, then burn his home, car, or business. Or destroy his crops. If you are unable to do so, then spit in his face.”

ISIS issued a call to the faithful within the jihadi community to attack and "slaughter soldiers" wherever they can be found. Two members of the Canadian military were evidently found by Martin Ahmed Rouleau in a commercial plaza parking lot. Police responded quickly as the man sped from the scene of his crime, treated at first as a hit-and-run event. A high-speed chase ensued during which the man lost control of his car and it flipped.

Allen McInnis/Postmedia News   Surete du Quebec police investigators at the scene of a police shooting following a hit and run in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu near Montreal on Monday October 20, 2014.

When he emerged from the vehicle, he was fatally shot by Sûreté du Québec police. There was an awareness by authorities that members of the Canadian Forces could be vulnerable to some kind of attack, whether internally or from without Canada. The Department of National Defence went to the trouble of preventing reporters from interviewing members of the military set to leave to take part in Canada's part of the mission to Iraq. Nor were their family members open to interviews.

This event certainly highlights the need for security and awareness. And illustrates that assumed safety within Canada from jihadist-inspired attacks may be an illusion under circumstances such as these.