Threats against Quebec's premier during pandemic part of 'violent' trend: terrorism agency
CBC
Online threats against Quebec's premier during the COVID-19 pandemic are part of a larger and "increasingly violent" trend, according to an unclassified report that concludes it's difficult for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to assess the validity of those threats.
The report, by Canada's Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre (ITAC), was obtained by CBC News through an access to information request. ITAC works in tandem with Canada's top spy agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
It was written in response to threats made online in January 2022, shortly after Premier François Legault proposed an additional tax for the unvaccinated.
The report says Legault's home address was posted on a public online forum, among other threatening messages.
"Hopefully someone in Quebec decapitates that f---," said one anonymous message.
"Give yourself at least a few weeks for a clean plan so that you don't get caught," said another.
In the report, ITAC concludes that violence against Legault is "unlikely" but says it "cannot discount the possibility" of an attack against the premier.
It also warns that the practice of "doxing" — maliciously publishing personal information online — adds risk, because it "provides those who have the intent and capability to use violence with valuable logistical details, potentially resulting in an opportunity to conduct an attack."
Legault's office declined to be interviewed, saying it doesn't comment on security concerns.
But one former security expert with the federal government said doxing adds an extra layer of danger into the "toxic brew" of violent online comments.
"It does heighten the risk for specific individuals and specific institutions and communities," said Artur Wilczynski, who is now a senior strategy adviser with consulting firm Samuel Associates in Ottawa. "It is a significant concern."
The ITAC report is part of mounting evidence of polarization, according to Amarnath Amarasingam, an assistant professor at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., whose research interests include terrorism, radicalization and extremism.
"The pandemic really ramped up the temperature of the discourse," he said in an interview with CBC News.
"Everything became a cosmic struggle of good versus evil and us versus them — and bringing down that temperature of politics is going to be enormously important."