The Royal Canadian Mounted Police shot dead an Islamic State sympathizer who authorities believe was planning to carry out a suicide attack that could have caused mass casualties.
The would-be attacker, Aaron Driver, 24, sought to launch a suicide mission in a public area, according to a police official.
The takedown occurred on Wednesday in the southern Ontario town of Strathroy after police said that they received credible information about a possible terror attack.
Reuters reported Thursday that U.S. authorities are the ones who tipped off Canadian police about the imminent attack, citing intelligence sources.
Driver had planned to use a homemade bomb in a public area that would cause mass casualties, according to Canadian television. He detonated a device that injured himself and one other person, Canada’s CBS News said.
Driver was on Canada’s terrorist watch list, and he posted frequently on social media under an alias about sympathizing with ISIS.
The Independent reported that Driver was under a court order from early 2016 to not associate with any terror groups, including ISIS.
ABC’s Martha Raddatz reported Thursday that Driver had been arrested before, but it was unclear if he was directed by the terror group to carry out an attack.
"Police said that he once published instructions on inspiring jihadists to reach Syria and referred to non-Muslims as enemies," Raddatz said.
"The Royal Canadian Mounted Police received credible information of a potential terrorist threat," a Royal Canadian Mounted Police statement said.
A witness said that police had told residents of the neighborhood to stay inside their homes.
Canada’s public safety minister, Ralph Goodale, said the national terrorism threat to Canada still remains at "medium," where it has remained since 2014.
Update: This article was updated from the original version to add that U.S. authorities tipped off Canadian police about the attack.