Toronto terror plot foiled -- Canada

[Reba 2]

I was reading updates last night and saw that British police are also looking for bomb materials in and around London. Sounds like somebody got a tip worldwide. I hope they catch that one too.

in today's Star:

Sources say investigators who had learned of the group's alleged plan to build a bomb were controlling the sale and transport of the massive amount of fertilizer, a key component in creating explosives. Once the deal was done, the RCMP-led anti-terrorism task force moved in for the arrests

Apparently they'd been watching a bunch of these guys since they were posting ####### on internet message boards.

The plan, from what I gather, was to hit the CSIS head office in Toronto, and the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, as well as other governmental and law enforcement offices.

The names of the 12 adult suspects now in custody were made public yesterday, but identities of the youths under the age of 18 cannot be released, according to Canadian laws protecting minors. Of the adults, six are from Mississauga; four from Toronto and two were already incarcerated in Kingston on gun smuggling charges.

...

Anser Farooq, a lawyer who represents five of the accused, pointed at snipers on the roof of the courthouse and said: "This is ridiculous. They've got soldiers here with guns. This is going to completely change the atmosphere.

"I think (the police) cast their net far too wide," he said, adding his clients are considering suing law enforcement agencies.

Around the same time, Karl Nickner of the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement that he is confident "the justice system will accord these individuals transparency, due process and the presumption of innocence."

"We stand behind our security forces and the Canadian government in their desire to protect Canada," said the executive director. "As Canadian Muslims, we unequivocally condemn terrorism in all of its forms."

...

Police said there were no known connections to Al Qaeda or international terrorist organizations, but that the group was homegrown, meaning the suspects were Canadian citizens, or long-time residents and had allegedly become radicalized here.

This type of extremism was blamed for the suicide attacks in London last July which claimed the lives of 52 commuters travelling on the subway and a double-decker bus.

"They appear to have become adherents of a violent ideology inspired by Al Qaeda," said Luc Portelance of CSIS, adding there is no direct link to the network.

source

(not sure if you have to register with TheStar.com in order to read that)

Edited June 4, 2006 by Reba

[Reba 2]

and the retaliation begins! Or so it would seem:

Etobicoke mosque vandalized

Building last defaced after 9/11 attacks

Jun. 4, 2006. 12:58 PM

JIM WILKES

STAFF REPORTER

Damage is estimated at more than $15,000 after three-dozen windows and glass doors were smashed overnight at one of Toronto’s biggest mosques.

The windshields of five vehicles parked behind the International Muslims Organization of Toronto mosque on Rexdale Blvd. in Etobicoke were also smashed in the vandalism spree early today.

"I am very saddened that someone would do this,”"organization president Omar Farouk said as he surveyed the damage.

He said the attack, which appeared to be the work of a single vandal using an axe or hammer, was the first vandalism at the mosque since a single window was smashed the night following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

Farouk said he feared the latest vandalism may have been backlash after the weekend arrests of 12 men and five youths, many of them Muslims, suspected of planning terrorist attacks in the Greater Toronto area.

"Islam preaches peace," Farouk said. "For us, to kill one person is like killing all of mankind."

Police think the vandal likely cut himself when a large piece of broken glass fell outward from one of the damaged windows. The few windows smashed after that were spattered with blood.

Toronto officers took samples of the blood to make a DNA profile of the vandal, who also left footprints in gardens under the windows.

what a git! doesn't this person watch CSI? It should have stopped before it spattered its blood all over the place!

(I say It because we don't know male or female, and I don't want to assume)

[Jersey Girl 2]

Salwapasserby, there are many people who wonder why there's so much senseless bloodshed. It's pointless and cruel and evil. The hatred is everywhere, like a global infection. Why hit Canada? They consider themselves to be the Switzerland of North America: friendly, open, non-violent. In many ways, our own visa journeys have been delayed by all the added security and I for one am glad. If these people are found guilty, I hope they're given the ultimate punishments.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If these people are found guilty, I hope they're given the ultimate punishments.

Isn't the ultimate punishment banned in Canada?

[Ban Hammer 14,293]

If these people are found guilty, I hope they're given the ultimate punishments.

Isn't the ultimate punishment banned in Canada?

probably. just fed ex them to texas

[M+S 0]

I agree with you they captured 3 people who was involved in Dahab attacks in Egypt 2 days ago '

I am very happy they did really... It's rediculous I would pay anything just to feel secure ...

it's the most precious thing in humans life " your safety"

I really hope that every goverment will have very open eyes and they can capture all people who do these activities and terrors before they do it the same way Canada did ..Today I told my sister what happened in Canada and she was like" what??? why Canada it's very well knows of being away form all the ####### so WHY??

I am very happy Canada police men was able to capture them before they actually do it.

I also agree with all the secuirty check US does for anyone who is entering the US and I really agree with US being extra causious with Muslims and Arabs ..9/11 was not an easy thing to be ever forgotten..

[iceyspots 0]

Amen brudder dean.

i rest my case.

[cmartyn 0]

Blowing up parliment lol.. Whats that going to do? Eliminate the debt faster?

Islam is a religion of peace.. okee dokee..

[Reba 2]

Salwapasserby, there are many people who wonder why there's so much senseless bloodshed. It's pointless and cruel and evil. The hatred is everywhere, like a global infection. Why hit Canada? They consider themselves to be the Switzerland of North America: friendly, open, non-violent. In many ways, our own visa journeys have been delayed by all the added security and I for one am glad. If these people are found guilty, I hope they're given the ultimate punishments.

Why hit Canada? Because Canadian troops are in Afganistan.

Switzerland of North America? *snarf* Not with Harper in office!

People seem to forget Canada's history. It hasn't always been the peacekeeping nation that its been for the past 60 or so years.

[slim 1,533]

I still can't get over how hard-pressed the US Government is to making this connection... although they're doing a good job, because ultimately, John Q. Public doesn't care if we invade and destabilize a whole region killing thousands and thousands of people in the process... because, oh wait... THEY'RE MUSLIMS! AND MUSLIMS ARE TERRORISTS!!!!

Saying these terrorists are connected to Islam is like saying the Oklahoma City Bombing was done by a fanatical Christian terrorist cell.

Tim McVeigh and Co. were all white boys from smack-dab in the middle of the USA! Why didn't Al-Jazeera jump on the bandwagon and start the smearing of Christianity? These were white American (so they had to be Christians, right?) terrorists.

Why? Because Islam has more class than that. And because Al-Jazeera isn't backed by someone with an anti-Christian agenda, unlike the US Government who quite obviously has an anti-Muslim agenda right now. It's really hard to invade a sovereign nation, kill 26,000+ of it's inhabitants, take over it's oil production, and show it all on TV without offending the Joneses. But.... when you tell the Joneses that "all those people over there support terrorism, and our actions are keeping you safe!" They are a lot less likely to raise an eyebrow to grave injustice.

[Heracles 417]

i just saw the news the other day were Sunni Muslims stopped a bus an executed a group of school kids who were Shiite Muslim. You can't seriously blame the US government for this. The war in Iraq has just brought these guys out of their hiding to reveal their true nature..

Interesting to see what people who are against the collecting of phone records have to say about this development. Clearly the use of personal data can help link and prevent further terrorist activities..

[Sister Fracas 5]

Islam is a religion of peace.. okee dokee..

oh *yawn*

[Ban Hammer 14,293]

i just saw the news the other day were Sunni Muslims stopped a bus an executed a group of school kids who were Shiite Muslim. You can't seriously blame the US government for this. The war in Iraq has just brought these guys out of their hiding to reveal their true nature..

it's bush's fault

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

i just saw the news the other day were Sunni Muslims stopped a bus an executed a group of school kids who were Shiite Muslim. You can't seriously blame the US government for this. The war in Iraq has just brought these guys out of their hiding to reveal their true nature..

You can quite reasonably blame the government, for the piss poor planning job they did. They didn't pull the trigger but they have created all the conditions for the civil unrest that resulted in this kind of thing..

Interesting to see what people who are against the collecting of phone records have to say about this development. Clearly the use of personal data can help link and prevent further terrorist activities..

Sure. But there have to be legally prescribed limits. What happens if say the next government isn't quite as committed to democracy as this one (although at this point, that would be a stretch).

Checks and balances...

Edited June 5, 2006 by Fishdude