Close X
Saturday, November 16, 2024
ADVT 
National

A look at what other countries have done to combat the threat of terrorism

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 30 Jan, 2015 10:50 AM

    OTTAWA — New anti-terror measures introduced Friday by the Conservative government are seen as a direct response to the attacks in October in which two Canadian soldiers were killed by men believed to be influenced by radical Islam.

    The Harper government considered both to be acts of terrorism.

    In response, they're proposing to give Canada's spy agency greater powers to disrupt potential attacks and also broaden the ability of the RCMP to go after possible suspects.

    In recent years, other countries have also introduced legislative reforms to thwart the growing threat of terrorism or in direct response to attacks on their soil.

    Here's a look at what some of the measures have been, what precipitated them and what happened after.

    France

    Last fall, the French government tightened its anti-terrorism legislation because of concerns about the growing number of nationals joining radical causes at home and abroad.

    Measures included:

    — a travel ban on anyone believed to be travelling to join a terrorist group abroad.

    — creation of new offences and new punishments for terrorists believed to be acting alone.

    — the power for authorities to block websites that "glorify terrorism" without the intervention of a judge.

    In January, two gunman tied to Al Qaeda in Yemen stormed the Paris office of the satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, killing 11 people, in apparent retaliation for provocative cartoons published by the paper of the prophet Muhammad.

    The two men died in a shoot out with police two days later and a third, who had taken a Jewish supermarket hostage, also died.

    The French government is now considering boosting anti-terror measures further, included beefed up surveillance powers.

    Australia

    In September 2014, security agencies claimed to have foiled a plot by Islamic extremists to carry out executions in Sydney and Brisbane.

    The Australian government said it was an example of a growing threat to the country from Islamic radicals affiliated with the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

    In response, a suite of new laws were introduced last fall.

    Measures included:

    — making it a crime to advocate terrorism.

    — sentences of life in prison for those who travel overseas to engage in hostile activities.

    — making it a crime to travel to or stay in an area designated as being of "terrorist activity", with some exceptions for family visits and other legitimate travel.

    — require telecommunications companies to retain customer's phone and computer metadata for around two year.

    In December 2014, a man with a criminal record for assault and known to have radical views, took 17 people hostage in a Sydney cafe, before being shot and killed by police.

    While he was known to security, he wasn't actively being monitored.

    Britain

    On July 7, 2005, four suicide bombers detonated bombs in the London Underground and on a city bus, killing 52 people and injuring close to 800.

    Two of the bombers had made videos ahead of time in which they declared their motivations being linked to radical Islam.

    In response, the British government introduced the Terrorist Act of 2006.

    New measures included:

    — extension of police powers to hold terrorist suspect up to 28 days without charge.

    — making it a crime to encourage terrorism by directly or indirectly inciting or encouraging others to commit acts of terrorism.

    — creating new offences to allow for the prosecution of anyone who gives or receives training in terrorist techniques.

    In 2013, a British soldier was murdered in London by two British men linked to radical Islam. A report into the attack found that security forces were aware of the two men but said they couldn't stop them. A further suite of legislation was introduced late last year as a response.

    Proposals include:

    — giving police the power to force Internet companies to hand over details that could help identify suspected terrorists.

    — banning British citizens suspected of involvement in terrorist activity abroad from coming back into the U.K. for two years.

    — requiring named institutions, including colleges and universities, to implement anti-radicalization programs.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Ontario's Jennifer Pan Found Guilty In Attack On Her Parents

    Ontario's Jennifer Pan Found Guilty In Attack On Her Parents
    NEWMARKET, Ont. — A woman convicted of orchestrating a phoney home invasion that left her mother dead and father seriously injured wept as a Toronto-area jury handed down its verdict on Saturday after a lengthy trial.

    Ontario's Jennifer Pan Found Guilty In Attack On Her Parents

    Calgary Police Say Parents Charged In Death Of Child Related To Malnutrition

    Calgary Police Say Parents Charged In Death Of Child Related To Malnutrition
    Calgary police say charges have been laid against the parents of a child whose death was related to malnutrition. Police say John Clark, who was 14 months old, died a day after being taken to a Calgary hospital by his parents in November 2013.

    Calgary Police Say Parents Charged In Death Of Child Related To Malnutrition

    Surrey Six Murders: Cold-Blooded Killers Get Life Without Parole For 25 Years

    Surrey Six Murders: Cold-Blooded Killers Get Life Without Parole For 25 Years

    VANCOUVER — A "cold-blooded" murder conspiracy of a rival gangster that blundered...

    Surrey Six Murders: Cold-Blooded Killers Get Life Without Parole For 25 Years

    Man Loses Appeal For Murder Of Sex Worker, Firearms Offence In B.C. Brothel

    Man Loses Appeal For Murder Of Sex Worker, Firearms Offence In B.C. Brothel
    VANCOUVER — A convicted murderer whose botched robbery of a Burnaby, B.C., brothel led to the death of a sex worker has lost his appeal in the province's highest court.

    Man Loses Appeal For Murder Of Sex Worker, Firearms Offence In B.C. Brothel

    Avian Flu Confirmed In Ninth Barn In B.C. Fraser Valley; 7,000 More Birds Affected

    Avian Flu Confirmed In Ninth Barn In B.C. Fraser Valley; 7,000 More Birds Affected
    VANCOUVER — Federal officials say avian influenza has been detected in a ninth poultry barn in British Columbia's Fraser Valley.

    Avian Flu Confirmed In Ninth Barn In B.C. Fraser Valley; 7,000 More Birds Affected

    U.S. Agents Nab Burnaby Manslaughter Suspect And Return Him To Canada

    U.S. Agents Nab Burnaby Manslaughter Suspect And Return Him To Canada
    BURNABY, B.C. — A 20-year-old Vancouver man is in custody on a manslaughter charge after being arrested at Seattle's airport.

    U.S. Agents Nab Burnaby Manslaughter Suspect And Return Him To Canada