A chilling trend is gripping Canada, revealed in a rare public address by the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. Nearly one in ten of the agency’s terrorism investigations now involves a person under the age of 18, a stark indicator of escalating online radicalization.
Since 2014, Canada has endured nearly two dozen violent extremist attacks, resulting in 29 deaths and leaving at least 60 individuals injured. These aren’t distant threats; they are unfolding within communities across the nation, fueled by ideologies spread through the digital world.
Recent cases paint a disturbing picture. In Montreal, a minor was arrested, accused of plotting an attack in support of a violent extremist group. Simultaneously, in the Edmonton area, a 15-year-old faced terrorism-related charges, linked to a shadowy online network actively manipulating vulnerable youth.
The threat isn’t isolated. Two 15-year-olds in Ottawa were apprehended, allegedly conspiring to carry out a mass casualty attack targeting the Jewish community. These young individuals, consumed by extremist beliefs, demonstrate the capacity to inflict harm equivalent to that of adults.
However, a glimmer of hope exists. Early intervention and societal support systems offer a potential pathway to disrupt radicalization before it culminates in violence. The agency believes identifying and addressing these issues in youth is crucial.
CSIS, alongside law enforcement partners and international allies – including the U.S., UK, Australia, and New Zealand – released a joint report in December, offering guidance to parents and guardians. The aim is to equip them with the knowledge to recognize warning signs and intervene before it’s too late.
Since 2022, CSIS has actively disrupted at least 24 violent extremist actions, leading to arrests or the imposition of terrorism peace bonds. In 2024 alone, the agency played a pivotal role in thwarting two plots inspired by a specific violent extremist group.
One case involved a father and son allegedly planning an attack in the Toronto area, while another saw an individual arrested before allegedly attempting to cross into the U.S. to target members of the Jewish community in New York. These are just a few examples of lives saved through proactive counter-terrorism efforts.
The Director attributes this surge in radicalization to a confluence of factors: eroding social cohesion, increasing polarization, and significant global events. These conditions create a breeding ground for extremist ideologies to take root and flourish.
Alarmingly, many individuals are radicalizing entirely online, often without direct guidance from others. This anonymity and secrecy present a significant challenge to investigators, hindering their ability to track and prevent acts of violence.
Beyond domestic extremism, CSIS is also confronting a growing threat from transnational repression. While previously focused on actions by certain nations, the agency has recently been forced to prioritize countering the activities of Iranian intelligence services and their proxies.
These foreign actors have targeted individuals within Canada perceived as threats to the Iranian regime, even resorting to potentially lethal actions. CSIS has successfully detected, investigated, and disrupted these threats, safeguarding lives within Canadian borders.
