Al-Qaida terrorism-related threats in Canada

A man, who federal officials say had become radicalized and rammed his car into two Quebec soldiers on Monday, has brought the issue of terrorism on home soil into the spotlight again.

Canada’s spy agency believes terrorism emanating from al-Qaida inspired extremism remains a “serious threat” at home.

Despite operations targeting al-Qaida groups in Pakistan, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) continues to see support for al-Qaida causes in Canada.

Here is a look back at terrorism incidents in the country in recent years:

April 22, 2013: Two men, Chiheb Esseghaier of Montreal and Raed Jaser of Toronto, are arrested by the RCMP for allegedly plotting to attack a Via Rail train that travels from New York City to Ontario.

April 14, 2004: Police arrest Momin Khawaja of Ottawa for plotting to set off fertilizer bombs in the United Kingdom. On March 12, 2008, he was convicted under Canada’s Anti-Terrorism Act.

June 2, 2006: Police arrest 18 people in the GTA and charge them with planning terrorist attacks including setting off truck bombs at the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Toronto regional headquarters of CSIS. Eleven were eventually found guilty. Of the 18 people charged, seven had their charges dropped or stayed, four were found guilty and seven pleaded guilty.

In the 1990s: an Algerian group affiliated with al-Qaida called Armed Islamic Group operated in Montreal to raise money, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia. One member Ahmed Ressam, of Montreal, who planned to blow up the L.A. airport, was caught in Port Angeles, Wash., in December 1999 with explosives and detonators in his car trunk.

In the 1990s: Ahmed Said Khadr, a friend of Osama bin Laden, led another group in Toronto, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia. Khadr raised money for Islamist attacks abroad, including the 1995 bombing of the Egyptian embassy in Islamabad, the encyclopedia said.

With files from The Canadian Press

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