Canada Scrambles To Reduce Terrorism Risk

The gunman in Wednesday's attack in Ottawa, Canada, was not one of the people being monitored by police for intent to travel abroad to join Islamic terrorists. But in the days before the attack, police say Michael Zehaf-Bibeau had trouble getting a passport because of his criminal record, and after his death this week, his mother told them he wanted to travel to Syria.

Last year, Canadian authorities were granted expanded powers to arrest and charge people suspected of intending to go abroad to join terrorism groups. Should police have been investigating him in greater detail? Questions about the police response arise as Canadian lawmakers, responding to the second deadly attack on Canadian soldiers this week, are set to expand terrorism investigation authority.

Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson speaks with Canadian terrorism expert Wesley Wark, a visiting professor at the University of Ottawa, who wonders if Canadian authorities missed an opportunity to arrest the attackers.