Bus Beheading Story Goes Worldwide

Canada is always anxious to be a big player on the world stage.

But not like this.

The beheading of an apparent complete stranger on board a Greyhound bus in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba Wednesday night has made headlines around the planet. The story has been featured in Britain, Ireland, Australia, The Netherlands, Hong Kong and of course, the U.S.

International agencies like The Associated Press, AFP and Reuters have also spread the details worldwide.

It was the number one item on the BBC’s website and it placed second on CNN’s online counterpart. Even bloggers have picked up the gruesome tale, adding their own sometimes eerie and speculative comments to the mix.

“I found it scary seeing as how I used to take Greyhounds to Canada!!!” one wrote. “I doubt I ever will again, especially now.”

Others were critical of the already traumatized passengers who watched the incident unfold. “37 people didn’t have anything to throw at him? 37 people couldn’t have over powered one guy with a knife?” an outraged poster asks. “Isn’t this the same mentality that allowed 2 or 3 idiots with box cutters to take out the Twin Towers?”

“No handguns allowed in Canada, we know. But no woman had a purse to bonk him on the head?” another queries. “No one bothered to throw a can of diet Coke at the guy’s head?  Who was on the bus? The Old Ladies’ Home and Gardening Society?”

And still a third called Canadians “panzies” (sic) for not doing anything to stop it.

But experts remind the commentators they weren’t there at the time and can’t understand the shock and surprise that may have rendered those onboard numb and unable to act, while worried about saving their own lives.

Others seemed determined to inject conspiracy theories into the mix, implying it was a terror attack.

“Winnipeg is only a few miles from the U.S. border,” a reader maintains. “The idea was to get as close to the U.S. as he could, if not get into the U.S., then engage in the attack in front of a busload of people. This was another act of radical Islamic terrorism on North American soil.”

“Beheading is the trademark of al-Qaeda.”

But while authorities here admit they don’t yet know the motive for the murder, they’re adamant terror wasn’t behind it.

There have also been many lurid headlines surrounding the unthinkable act. “Bus slasher beheads passenger,” proclaimed Sky News in Britain.

“Killer taunts police with decapitated head,” shouted a banner in the Sunday Times of Australia.

A 40-year-old Edmonton man has been charged in the terrible crime, but the motive for the incident still isn’t clear.