Details emerging after 17 terror arrests in Toronto
Last Updated Sat, 03 Jun 2006 10:40:46 EDT CBC News
Details began emerging Saturday of an RCMP raid east of Toronto in which 17 people were arrested Friday evening on terrorism-related charges.
Police said 12 adults and five young offenders have been charged with a number of terrorism offenders.
The RCMP said they “have arrested a number of individuals who were planning to commit a series of terror attacks against targets here in southern Ontario.”
Provide details
The RCMP, Canadian Security Intelligence Service officials, and law enforcement officials, including the heads of several Toronto-area police forces held a news conference that began at 10 a.m EDT. in Mississauga, Ont., just west of Toronto.
All the men arrested were residents of Canada and most are Canadian citizens, officials said.
“This group holds a real and serious intent,” RCMP Assistant Commissioner Mike McDonell said.
Officials have not said what specific targets the suspects may have had, although McDonell did confirm that Toronto’s transit system was not a target.
“Terrorism is a dangerous ideology that knows no borders,” said Luc Portelance, CSIS Assistant Director of Operations.
The charges are related to an explosives plot in Ontario.
Officials said three tonnes of ammonium nitrate was found and they confirmed that the group attended a terrorism training camp.
Arrests east of Toronto
The suspects, described as being in their teens and 20s, were expected to be arraigned in Pickering, just east of Toronto.
On Friday, armed officers could be seen surrounding the Durham Regional Police Station in Pickering as the suspects were transported in unmarked cars, which were driven into an underground garage.
At least three police officers were armed with machine-guns as they patrolled the building, which was sealed off with yellow tape.
TORONTO – A list of the adults arrested and charged with offences under the Criminal Code of Canada. Five youths, who cannot be named, were also charged:
Fahim Ahmad, 21, Toronto;
Zakaria Amara, 20, Mississauga, Ont.;
Asad Ansari, 21, Mississauga;
Shareef Abdelhaleen, 30, Mississauga;
Qayyum Abdul Jamal, 43, Mississauga;
Mohammed Dirie, 22, Kingston, Ont.;
Yasim Abdi Mohamed, 24, Kingston;
Jahmaal James, 23, Toronto;
Amin Mohamed Durrani, 19, Toronto;
Steven Vikash Chand alias Abdul Shakur, 25, Toronto;
I just finished watching some highlights from the press conference. Apparently, they acquired 3 tonnes of ammonia nitrate. The commissioner gave the example of the Oklahoma City Bombing. Timothy McVey only used 1 tonne in that explosion.
It is good that amonium nitrate has been seized before it’s used. I’m kinda shocked that they were having such intentions against Canada … damn damn stuuupid people!
Bunch of welfare-loving, lazy-ass ungrateful morons. I really don't care if Mr. Harper personally hangs each and every one of them. What the hell else would be done with three freakin' tons of ammonium nitrate? 1st of July fireworks!? Sheesh.
yar i still cant get over this .. 3tons thing…
