OTTAWA—Canada’s prime minister is linking the mass shooting in Orlando, Fla. on the weekend to the death of a Canadian citizen at the hands of a terror group in the Philippines, saying “terrorism is a scourge around the world.”
“It is with deep sadness and anger that I can report we have reason to believe that a Canadian citizen, Robert Hall, held hostage in the Philippines since Sept. 21, 2015, has been killed by his captors,” Trudeau said.
Trudeau told reporters he spoke to Philippines President Benigno Aquino, and while Hall’s death at the hands of Abu Sayyaf was not formally confirmed he had “every reason” to believe the reports are “unfortunately true.”
(Abu Sayyaf is considered a violent militant group in the southwestern Philippines. It has been blamed for several bloody terrorist attacks in the country.)
“The appalling attack on the LGBTQ2 community this weekend in Orlando and this news today serve as devastating reminders for all of us that vicious acts of hatred and violence cannot be tolerated in any form.”
He said the Canadian flag atop the Peace Tower had already been lowered “in solidarity” with the Orlando mass shooting victims and families.
“It is with great sadness that the flag flies lowered for yet another sad event as well.”
