Policeman attacked and four injured in Canada terror attack

Edmonton:  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the stabbing of a police officer in Edmonton, Alberta, and resulting high-speed chase that injured four people as a "terrorist attack".

"While the investigation continues, early reports indicate that this is another example of the hate that we must remain ever vigilant against," Trudeau said in a statement on Sunday local time.

Police were involved in a high-speed chase with a truck which flipped over near a downtown hotel. Photo: Twitter/@ZoeHTodd

The assault happened on Saturday night outside an Edmonton Eskimos' Canadian Football League game promoted as a military appreciation night. A man driving a Chevrolet Malibu drove into a police officer, got out of the vehicle and began stabbing the officer before fleeing the scene, Edmonton Police Service Chief Rod Knecht said.

Knecht said officers have one person in custody and they think he acted alone. An Islamic State group flag was found in the car that hit the officer.

The officer was taken to a hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. "It's not critical," Knecht said of the injuries.

A few hours later, a van was stopped at an impaired driving check stop north of downtown on Wayne Gretzky Drive. Knecht said the name of the driver was close to the name of the registered owner of the car that hit the officer.

He said the van then sped off toward downtown with police in pursuit.

Police say the van intentionally swerved at pedestrians throughout the chase. Four people were injured by the van, but the extent of their injuries was not immediately known.

The van eventually flipped near a downtown hotel and a suspect was arrested. Knecht said the man was known to police, but did not release his name.

"It is believed at this time that these two incidents are related," he said. "It was determined that these incidents are being investigated as acts of terrorism."

Knecht said Edmonton police are working with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's National Security Enforcement Team and other Canadian security agencies.

AP, Bloomberg