Send this page to someone via email

The man killed during a confrontation with RCMP officers in Strathroy, Ont. has been identified as Aaron Driver.

Driver moved from Winnipeg to Strathroy as a condition of a peace bond which was applied after he was arrested after being accused of supporting ISIS.

Driver posted messages on social media that praised terrorist activities, including the attack on Parliament Hill by Michael Zehaf-Bibeau.

WATCH: Winnipeg terrorism suspect agrees to a peace bond (February 2, 2016)



1:32 Winnipeg terrorism suspect agrees to a peace bond Winnipeg terrorism suspect agrees to a peace bond

The RCMP said earlier Wednesday it was investigating after receiving “credible information” of a potential terrorist threat to Canada.

Story continues below advertisement

“A suspect was identified and the proper course of action has been taken to ensure that there is no danger to the public’s safety,” RCMP said in a statement.

Little information was given on the “national security threat,” but an official told the Canadian Press the suspect allegedly planned to use a bomb to carry out a suicide bombing mission in a public area.

Police now asking people in buildings/houses inside security perimeter to leave their homes. #Strathroy — Andrew Lawton (@AndrewLawton) August 11, 2016

Residents in the southwestern Ontario community were asked to leave an area which was cordoned off as local, provincial and federal law enforcement were on scene.

Both the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and Ontario’s provincial transit planner Metrolinx say they were “made aware of a terror threat investigation” but had no specifics attached to it.

“As a precaution, we issued a ‘see something, say something’ vigilance notice to all TTC staff as we do after incidents that occur around the world or if advised of threats closer to home,” said TTC spokesman Brad Ross in an e-mail.

Transit officials would not specifically confirm if a particular area of Toronto’s transportation network was targeted.

Strathroy is located about 40 kilometres west of London, Ont. with a population of around 20,000 people.

Story continues below advertisement

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said he and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have discussed the situation.“With respect to the police and security actions taken in Canada today, I have discussed the situation with the Prime Minister to confirm that public safety has been and continues to be properly protected,” Goodale said in a statement.

READ MORE: Winnipeg terrorism suspect agrees to a peace bond

Goodale said the government is committed to keeping Canadians safe, adding there are “robust” measures in place to do so.

Canada’s National Terrorism Threat Level remains at “medium,” Goodale said, where it has been since the fall of 2014.

VIDEO: Critics coming to the defense of alleged terrorism supporter

Winnipeg-based lawyer Leonard Tailleur, who had handled Driver’s peace bond, said he was “shocked” to hear what had happened.

Story continues below advertisement

“Saddened to hear that it had to end this way for him,” Tailleur said in an email to The Canadian Press.

Tailleur had not been in contact with Driver since February when “the matter had been resolved to the satisfaction of the Department of Justice, the RCMP and myself.”

WATCH: Police take Aaron Driver into custody in Winnipeg (June 26, 2015)



In Strathroy, resident Irene Lee said late Wednesday that since about 4:15 p.m., police had been camped outside the home where Driver lived.

At about that time, she said she was at her own home close by when she heard a loud noise. She said shortly afterward, a police officer came by to tell residents to stay inside their homes.

Story continues below advertisement

Lee said there were up to 25 marked and unmarked cruisers outside Driver’s Park Street residence all Wednesday evening. She said Driver regularly goes to her parents’ nearby convenience store to buy energy drinks.

Ottawa was abuzz with rumours for much of Wednesday after a memo was circulated among National Defence personnel warning of a terrorist threat.

With files from Canadian Press

