SAINT-JEAN-SUR-RICHELIEU, Quebec (AP) — A neighbor says a Canadian man who’s accused of hitting two Canadian soldiers with his car yesterday near Montreal, killing one of them, had become increasingly radicalized over the past year or so. And authorities are investigating whether the man’s links to radical Islam spurred the attack.

The suspect, Martin Rouleau, was shot by police following a car chase and later died.

Police have said the suspect “was known to federal authorities” — who had been “concerned that he had become radicalized.”

Neighbor Daniel Fortin said he had known Rouleau since he was a child. He said over the past year or so, Rouleau grew out his beard and began wearing loose-fitting Muslim clothing, but that he never felt threatened by him.

He says Rouleau’s father was worried as he became increasingly radicalized.

A second neighbor says police visited the home on more than one occasion over the past few months.

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024-v-33-(Peter Ray, Canadian Press reporter)–Quebec police say a motorist who struck two members of the Canadian Forces with his car has died. The incident was cited by an member of Canada’s House of Commons as a possible terror attack. Canadian Press reporter Peter Ray reports. (21 Oct 2014)

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025-a-10-(Joyce Kemp, provincial police spokeswoman, with reporters)-“have the conclusion”-Provincial police spokeswoman Joyce Kemp was asked about reports that the incident was a possible terror attack. COURTESY: The Canadian Press ((mandatory on-air credit)) (21 Oct 2014)

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APPHOTO SJR108: In a Monday Oct. 20, 2014 photo, a car is overturned in a ditch in a cordoned off area in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. One of two soldiers hit by a car on Monday in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., died of his injuries early Tuesday, according to Quebec provincial police. Martin Couture Rouleau, 25, of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, was shot and killed by police after he struck two members of the Canadian military with his car Monday in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. An official familiar with the case said Rouleau had become influenced by radical Islam. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Pascal Marchand) (20 Oct 2014)

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