RCMP Arrest Two For Terrorism Offences In Ottawa
Posted August 25, 2010 4:01 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The RCMP have arrested two Ottawa residents in relation to terrorist offences following a raid on a west-end Ottawa home early Wednesday.
The Mounties say they are executing search warrants in connection with the case and they expect more arrests.
A young couple with one or two young children had lived at the Ottawa address in the city’s Carlingwood area for six months to a year, said Matthew Weiler, a gardener who lives next door.
Weiler arose early for a dental appointment to see eight or nine Ottawa police and RCMP cruisers on the street.
Weiler said he didn’t know the man, who had a full beard and appeared around 30, nor his wife, who was usually veiled in public.
“I’m not that shocked. It’s got to be somewhere, I guess,” Weiler said in an interview.
“I’m not too worried. They wouldn’t do anything at their own home.”
Carolina Ayala, who lives four doors down from the couple, said she saw the man wearing blue hospital scrubs and thinks he may have worked at a hospital.
When she saw police cars in front of the home early Wednesday, Ayala’s first thought was a possible case of domestic violence.
“My husband has heard them screaming before,” Ayala said. “I thought there was somebody hitting somebody but then when I saw the RCMP I knew that it was something different.”
The Mounties provided no details on the identity of the suspects, nor did they specify what the allegations are, other than to call them terrorist-related. One report said a raid was carried out at a second west-end Ottawa apartment building.
They will hold a news conference on Thursday to offer more details.
The Muslim Canadian Congress commended the RCMP.
“But we hope that the accused will be tried with due process, the presumption of innocence, and with full guarantees that their constitutional rights will be protected,” said Salma Siddiqui, the group’s vice-president.
The arrests come four years after apprehension of extremist plotters in the so-called Toronto 18 case, and the 2008 conviction of Momin Khawaja of Ottawa on several terrorism-related charges.
Canadian Security Intelligence Service director Dick Fadden alluded to the possibility of other homegrown terrorist cases in comments to the Commons public safety committee last month.
“We have had very clear evidence in this country that there have been terrorists seeking to do harm. The Toronto 18 are a clear example. We’re monitoring a number of other cases in which we think there may be similar circumstances,” Fadden said.
“Do I think that everybody needs to go to their basement with an 18-day supply of food? Absolutely not. My point in raising this was simply to say that Canadians will need to know this. I think if Canadians know about this kind of threat they will be inclined to let us know if they find anything that’s worrisome.”
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said Wednesday he could not provide any details about the arrests.
“Our government monitors national security concerns and is vigilant in protecting against any threats.”
