Canadian Security Intelligence Service head: Terrorist threat to Canada has ‘never been as direct or immediate’

As youths arrested for terrorism appeared in courts in Alberta, Quebec and the Maritimes on Monday, the director of Canada’s intelligence service testified in Ottawa that the country was facing an unprecedented terrorist threat.

“Based on service assessments, the terrorist threat to Canada’s national security interests has never been as direct or immediate,” Canadian Security Intelligence Service head Michel Coulombe told the Senate national security committee.

“In addition to complex plots involving multiple threat actors over a prolonged period, we must also be alert to rapidly escalating threats posed by individuals determined and able to act with little or no warning or support,” he said.

Canada has seen both in recent months...