Wed Feb 22, 03:54 PM

Bin Laden's death won't dim Islamic extremism: CSIS

The Canadian Press
Osama bin Laden, left, and his top lieutenant Egyptian Ayman al-Zawahri, right, are seen at an undisclosed location in this television image broadcast, Oct. 7, 2001. (AP / Al-Jazeera)
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OTTAWA — Just hours after U.S. forces killed Osama bin Laden, Canada's spy agency predicted Islamic extremism would live on despite the al Qaeda leader's death.

A newly released assessment by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service says Bin Laden -- though very important -- was not the only ideologue advocating war between Islam and the West.

It suggests groups inspired by the al Qaeda message might carry out attacks independently of the terrorist network's core.

Bin Laden was buried at sea last May after a covert U.S. team stormed a compound in Pakistan and killed him.

The CSIS assessment, written the day after his death, expresses concern he would be elevated to martyr status, reinforcing his iconic image.

The Canadian Press obtained a copy of the report -- initially classified secret -- under the Access to Information Act.

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