Canadian Forces reservist died fighting with ISIS | 24CA News

The Canadian Armed Forces has confirmed that certainly one of its former reservists was killed after making his method to Iraq to affix the so-called Islamic State.

Private Bilal Khan enlisted within the terrorist group shortly after he was launched from the Canadian navy in October 2014, a spokesperson mentioned.

“We are aware that he travelled to Iraq in early 2015 and was killed in November 2015,” mentioned Daniel Le Bouthillier, the Canadian Forces head of media relations.

A former member of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry in Hamilton, Ont., Khan is the one Canadian soldier identified to have joined ISIS, he added.

The affirmation of his involvement adopted an investigation by Canadian Forces National Counter-Intelligence Unit (CFNCIU).

The unit, which investigates threats posed by violent extremists within the navy, decided Khan had joined ISIS after simply over two years within the infantry reserve.

The CFNCIU investgated whether or not Khan had “previously presented a radicalization threat within the CAF,” Le Bouthillier mentioned.

“It was determined that he did not, nor had he been radicalized by an individual within the CAF.”

The Canadian navy has been cracking down on extremists inside its ranks after a number of members have been linked to far-right hate teams.

Right-wing extremist teams have been actively recruiting navy members, however the Canadian Forces has not been a standard pathway to ISIS or Al Qaeda.

Prof. Amarnath Amarasingam, an skilled on overseas fighters, mentioned he had by no means heard of Khan and agreed he was the primary former Canadian soldier identified to have joined ISIS.

Unlike different extremist teams, ISIS has not overtly recruited members of the navy, mentioned Amarasingam, an assistant professor on the Queen’s University School of Religion and Political Studies.

“We shouldn’t really be surprised,” mentioned Canadian Anti-Hate Network chair Bernie Farber, who has raised considerations about right-wing extremists within the navy.

He mentioned the Canadian Forces now acknowledged that extremists seen the armed forces as a coaching floor, and that teams have been in search of out navy members due to their abilities and expertise.

“As somebody with training like that — and Canadian reserve training is excellent — he would have been welcomed with open arms,” mentioned Tim Fletcher, who spent 36 years within the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.

“I never knew the guy, although we might have overlapped initially,” mentioned Fletcher, who left in July 2012 and speaks for the RHLI Veterans Association.

“I can’t say that I applaud his choices,” he added. “How he could take up arms against former comrades is disturbing to me. I can’t begin to understand that motivation.”

2:56Anti-Hate Network chair speaks out after arrest of Canadian Armed Forces member with alleged ties to hate group

Khan enrolled within the RHLI, also referred to as the Fighting Rileys, in February 2012. “He had no operational deployments with the CAF,” Le Bouthillier mentioned.

The main reserve unit of the 31 Canadian Brigade group, 4th Canadian Division, the RHLI was shaped in 1862.

“Our task is to augment our Regular Force with well-trained and highly motivated infantry soldiers,” in keeping with its web site.

“To keep our soldiers in fighting shape, we train regularly on a wide range of skill sets, weapon systems, and equipment.”

Khan left the navy a month after Canada joined the worldwide coalition preventing towards ISIS in September 2014.

His departure additionally coincided with the October 2014 assaults that killed a Canadian soldier in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., and one other on the battle memorial in Ottawa.

Despite having undergone primary navy coaching, he didn’t final lengthy in fight. He died inside months of arriving in ISIS-controlled territory.

Most of the handfuls of Canadians who joined ISIS have been killed, some in airstrikes, which have been carried out by the worldwide coalition and Russia.

2:10Some Canadians detained in Syria returning house

A handful survived and have been captured by U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in the course of the defeat of ISIS in Syria in January 2019.

Four Canadian girls suspected of involvement in ISIS have been flown again to Canada from Syria by the federal government in April.

Three of them have been arrested on terrorism peace bonds and launched. Up to 3 extra are anticipated to return to Alberta and Quebec within the coming weeks.

While a number of the Canadian residents in ISIS have been infamous for his or her social media profiles, Khan was till just lately an unknown.

The solely different Canadian veterans who travelled to Syria and Iraq in the course of the battle have been volunteers who fought towards ISIS alongside Kurdish forces.

Recruits with navy expertise can strengthen extremist teams through the use of their weapons abilities to conduct assaults or prepare others.

CBS News reported that 81 of the defendants charged with storming the U.S. Capitol constructing on Jan. 6, 2021, had ties to the navy.

0:24Ex-Canadian Forces reservist Patrik Mathews sentenced to 9 years in jail

In Canada, a heavily-armed reservist, Corey Hurren, rammed his truck by way of the gates of Rideau Hall on July 2, 2020, as a result of he was offended at authorities insurance policies on weapons and COVID-19.

Another reserve member, Patrik Mathews, was a member of the neo-Nazi group The Base, which known as for racist violence. He was arrested and convicted within the United States.

The Canadian Forces adopted a brand new coverage framework in 2020 that mentioned it was “unacceptable” for members to take part in hate teams.

The navy additionally launched a brand new system to trace and monitor “suspected incidents of hateful conduct within the organization.”

Stewart.Bell@globalnews.ca