Calgary teen arrested in terrorism investigation must follow conditions for one year

CALGARY — A youth court judge has granted a one-year peace bond to a 15-year-old Calgary boy who was arrested in October as part of an ongoing national security investigation.

The teen, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is one of four Calgarians who have been arrested over terrorism-related posts on TikTok and other social media sites since June.

The teen was subject to a section of the Criminal Code that allows for a peace bond if there’s fear the young person may commit a terrorism offence.

He appeared in a Calgary courtroom with his lawyer and his family on Friday afternoon for the hearing.

Cpl. Courtney Currie of the RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team testified that the boy was a member of pro-Islamic State chat groups that had participants from around the world, including Calgary, who posted graphic videos of beheadings and murders.

He “posted a threat to kill and rape an unnamed Shia individual who he identified as … an infidel and expressed a desire to travel to Iraq to join ISIS,” she told court.

Currie said the boy asked 20-year-old Zakarya Hussein, who was charged as part of the same national security investigation, to go with him to Iraq. They also held private conversations, she said.

Hussein has previously pleaded guilty to one terrorism charge after admitting he shared ISIS recruitment videos on TikTok, wrote out instructions on how to make a bomb and posted on Snapchat that his mission would begin during Pride month. 

Hussein is to be sentenced in March following a risk assessment report ordered by his lawyer.

A threat assessment was also prepared for the 15-year-old boy, and Currie testified that the report determined he’s a low risk to commit an act of violence against the Canadian public.

It added, however, that he’s “extremely impressionable and susceptible to interpersonal influence.”

“Therefore, (he) poses a high risk to joining an extremist group while playing a supportive role in said group.”

Currie said the teen’s desire for validation cannot be discounted.

“Based on the totality of the information to date, in order to effectively manage (his) risk in the community, a terrorism peace bond is highly recommended,” she told court. 

The boy’s lawyer, James Molloy, didn’t dispute the officer’s testimony or call any evidence.

“I’ve discussed this with my client … and our position is to consent.”

Justice Jennifer Shafton granted the application and imposed a set of conditions on the Grade 10 student’s freedoms that include regular reporting to a probation officer, not associating with anyone connected to a terrorist group, not using any social media platforms and participating in an intervention program.

“Obey your mom and dad, and go to school,” Shafton told the teen. “That’s all you’ve got to do. Right? It’s easy.”

He replied: “Ya, of course.”

The boy’s case will be reviewed in eight months to determine whether he’s complying with the conditions.

A 17-year-old Calgarian who was arrested in June as part of the same national security investigation also agreed to conditions as part of a one-year peace bond last month.

Earlier Friday, a fourth Calgarian who was arrested in December made a brief appearance before the same judge with his lawyer and his father. 

The 16-year-old boy’s case was put over until later this month.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2024.

Colette Derworiz, The Canadian Press