Tweet
The RCMP arrested 17 suspects in an anti-terror sweep in Ontario last Friday, and seized dangerous materials including three tonnes of ammonium nitrate.
To provide a sense of scale, RCMP Assistant Commissioner Mike McDonell said that the ammount of ammonium nitrate ceased was three times the amount used in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
Officials did not say that the suspects were members of Al-Qaeda but Luc Portelance, Assistant Director of Operations for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) did say that the suspects "appear to have become adherents of a violent ideology inspired by al-Qaeda."
The FBI, who also provided information to their Canadian counterparts, have linked the suspects with two people arrested in Georgia in March.
The Toronto Star reports that the RCMP made the arrests following an undercover sting operation connected with the delivery of the ammonium nitrate.
"This group posed a real and serious threat," said McDonell, speaking near a table of seized evidence including a 9-mm Luger handgun, two-way radios and a crude detonator made from a converted cell phone. "It had the capacity and intent to carry out these acts."
Officials did not specify any potential targets of terrorist acts, though the Toronto Sun reports that the CSIS offices in Toronto and an RCMP building were targeted. Sources for the Sun say that such "institutional targets" were in danger, as opposed to civilian targets.
Earlier last week, the RCMP released information to the media that they were investigating two individuals who were suspiciously filming parts of the Toronto Transit Commission's subway system. The RCMP have denied that these arrests were related to that investigation and say that the TTC was not a target.
The 17 suspects appeared in court yesterday where they face charges. Many of the suspects are Canadian citizens.
To provide a sense of scale, RCMP Assistant Commissioner Mike McDonell said that the ammount of ammonium nitrate ceased was three times the amount used in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
Officials did not say that the suspects were members of Al-Qaeda but Luc Portelance, Assistant Director of Operations for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) did say that the suspects "appear to have become adherents of a violent ideology inspired by al-Qaeda."
The FBI, who also provided information to their Canadian counterparts, have linked the suspects with two people arrested in Georgia in March.
The Toronto Star reports that the RCMP made the arrests following an undercover sting operation connected with the delivery of the ammonium nitrate.
"This group posed a real and serious threat," said McDonell, speaking near a table of seized evidence including a 9-mm Luger handgun, two-way radios and a crude detonator made from a converted cell phone. "It had the capacity and intent to carry out these acts."
Officials did not specify any potential targets of terrorist acts, though the Toronto Sun reports that the CSIS offices in Toronto and an RCMP building were targeted. Sources for the Sun say that such "institutional targets" were in danger, as opposed to civilian targets.
Earlier last week, the RCMP released information to the media that they were investigating two individuals who were suspiciously filming parts of the Toronto Transit Commission's subway system. The RCMP have denied that these arrests were related to that investigation and say that the TTC was not a target.
The 17 suspects appeared in court yesterday where they face charges. Many of the suspects are Canadian citizens.
Comment