17 Arrested For Alleged Southern Ontario Terror Plot

Many people may believe that terrorism is something that only happens outside Canada’s borders, but a series of arrests have proven that the threat of attacks on Canadian soil is very real.

On Saturday the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canada’s spy agency divulged disturbing details of an alleged terror plot that involved plans for attacks on targets across southern Ontario.

Officials say they foiled that plot after a lengthy investigation that resulted in the arrests of 12 men and five youths Friday night. More than 400 officers from federal and local forces carried out a series of raids across the G.T.A.

R.C.M.P. Assistant Commissioner Mike McDonell said some of those arrested were Canadian citizens and all were Canadian residents.

“This group posed a real and serious threat. It had the capacity and intent to carry out these acts,” he explained. “Our investigation and arrests prevented the assembly of any bombs and the attacks from being carried out.”

These individuals allegedly purchased three tonnes of ammonium nitrate – a commonly used fertilizer – to make explosives.

In order to help the public grasp the full scale of this group’s alleged capability to cause death and destruction, McDonell compared the amount of ammonium nitrate the R.C.M.P. seized to the amount used in the Oklahoma City bombing.

“If I can put this in context for you, the 1995 bombing in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people was completed with only one tonne of ammonium nitrate,” he said.

A computer tower and other bomb making materials were also allegedly seized during the raids.

Officials wouldn’t say what the intended targets were, but they did confirm that the T.T.C. was not one of them.

“There was never any threat or any indication that there might be a threat against public transportation generally or in the T.T.C. specifically,” Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair explained.

“But at the same time, we know from other jurisdictions, London and Madrid, that public transportation can be a target. And so we work hard with partners at the T.T.C. and with GO to ensure a safe system for all the people who use it.”

According to published reports, a downtown C.S.I.S. building near the C.N. Tower and the Parliament buildings were on the hit list.

McDonell said these suspects represent the “broad strata” of society – some were students, some employed and others unemployed – but Luc Portelance of the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (C.S.I.S.) said they shared a violent ideology inspired by al-Qaida.

Officials said they found no direct link to the notorious terrorist organization.

“Any movement that has the ability to turn people against their fellow citizens is obviously something C.S.I.S. is very concerned about,” he said. “We work closely with our partners domestically and internationally to ensure that terrorists don’t attack our country or our citizens.”

Officials wouldn’t say if the suspects had travelled outside of the country for training at terrorist camps. They were all scheduled to appear in a Brampton court Saturday that was guarded by heavily-armed police officers.

While the details of this alleged terror plot have likely sent chills up the spines of people across the country and especially across the city, Blair tried to ease shaken nerves.

“I think the people of Toronto should be greatly reassured that law enforcement has effectively neutralized that threat,” he said.

McDonell encouraged members of the public who may have any information regarding terrorism or any type of criminal extremism to call the National Security Tip Line at 1-800-420-5805.

A list of the 12 adults charged:

Fahim Ahmad, 21, of Toronto

Zakaria Amara, 20, of Mississauga

Asad Ansari, 21, of Mississauga

Shareef Abdelhaleen, 30, of Mississauga

Qayyum Abdul Jamal, 43, of Mississauga

Mohammed Dirie, 22, Kingston, Ontario

Yasim Abdi Mohamed, 24, Kingston, Ontario

Jahmaal James, 23, of Toronto

Amin Mohamed Durrani, 19, Toronto

Steven Vikash Chand alias Abdul Shakur, 25, of Toronto

Ahmad Mustafa Ghany, 21, of Mississauga

Saad Khalid, 19, of Mississauga

Five youths were also arrested who cannot be identified.

All are charged with contributing to the activities of a terrorist group by training or recruitment, the commission of firearms and explosives for the benefit of a terrorist group, and providing or making available property for terrorist groups.