Canada: After attack, Trudeau says don't give into fear

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada

In the aftermath of a deadly van attack that killed 10 in Toronto, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians on Tuesday not to be overwhelmed by feelings of fear.

“We cannot as Canadians choose to live in fear every single day as we go about our daily business,” Trudeau told reporters Tuesday. “We need to focus on doing what we can, and what we must do, to keep Canadians safe while we stay true to the freedoms and values that we all as Canadians hold dear.”

A van travelling at a high rate of speed went onto the sidewalk in northern Toronto, Monday, mowing down pedestrians. Ten were killed and 15 injured.

Suspect Alek Minassian, 25, who was apprehended shortly after the attack, appeared in a Canadian courtroom Tuesday and was charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder.

He did not speak and has not revealed any motive for the attack.

While Toronto Mayor John Tory reassured Torontonians that heightened security measures had been put in place, Trudeau said the attack has not changed the national terrorism threat level.

Separately, Jordan on Tuesday announced that one of its citizens is among the victims of the attack.

In a statement, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said Mounir Abdo Habib al-Najjar, who was in Canada to visit one of his sons, died in the attack.

* Laith al-Junaidi contributed to this story from Amman, Jordan.