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TORONTO ARRESTS: 18 FACE TERROR CHARGES Introduction “Homegrown Terror . in Toronto” fected young Muslim men, upset by the Focus shrieked the headline in the Toronto wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. They also This News in Re- Star on June 4, 2006. Police had ar- share a belief that Muslims in Canada view module deals rested a group of 17 Canadians, most of are treated as second-class citizens, with the arrest of 18 alleged mem- them under the age of 30 (including five singled out for racial profiling by the bers of a terrorist under the age of 18), and charged them police and intelligence services. cell in the summer with terrorist activities. Most were Cana- According to The Globe and Mail of 2006. We exam- dian citizens. All, with the exception of (June 15, 2006), CSIS lists many other ine the alleged plot the youngest, were practising Muslims. factors as contributing to the extremist and profile the The most serious of the charges, one mindset. “Internet postings, Al Qaeda- accused plotters. that six of the accused faced, was a plot style propaganda, edicts by Islamic We also briefly examine some of to bomb political and economic targets scholars, and a variety of foreign conflicts the other terrorist in downtown Toronto. These included have all been cited as factors contributing plots, both suc- the Toronto headquarters of the Cana- to a call-to-arms mentality. Socio-eco- cesses and failures, dian Security Intelligence Service nomic status is said to be a non-factor.” that have taken (CSIS) and the Canadian Broadcasting The arrests created concern in Canada’s place in other Corporation (CBC), as well as the Muslim community. Many found it countries since Toronto Stock Exchange Building. hard to believe that these young people 9/11. Finally, we look at some of the Terrorist plots are not unknown to could be involved in such an activity. If steps our govern- Canadians. Nearly 300 Canadians were the allegations were proven true, how- ment has taken to killed when a terrorist bomb brought ever, most community members would combat domestic down an Air India flight from Toronto condemn the actions and point to alternate terror. to London in 1985. The alleged Toronto forms of protest. Mohamed Elmasry, plot, however, was quickly designated President of the Canadian Islamic Con- by the media as the first attempt by gress (www.canadianislamiccongress.com), Definition Canadians to commit terrorist acts on was quoted in the Toronto Star (June 4, Jihad is an Arabic Canadian soil. None of these allegations 2006): “We want to send a message to word meaning to has yet been proven in court. Publica- the community, especially youth, that in struggle or exert an effort. It does not tion bans make it hard to get at all the a liberal democracy, you can have a mean blanket use information behind the arrests. dissenting voice and you can be part of of force against What we do know is that most of the the political process by voting, running enemies or those accused seem to fit the description of for office, by seeking careers in law, with whom you what many commentators have called law enforcement, media, professions disagree. However, “Generation Jihad.” These are disaf- that the community needs.” Islamic extremists often use jihad as For Reflection and Discussion an excuse to com- Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the following statement in a speech mit atrocities. shortly after the arrest of the alleged conspirators: “As at other times in our These acts are history, we are a target because of who we are and how we live, our society, condemned by the vast majority of our diversity, and our values—values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule Muslims. of law—the values that make Canada great, values that Canadians cherish” (quoted in the Toronto Star, June 4, 2006). Consider Harper’s comments as you watch the video. Do you think the alleged plot, as it is outlined, targets Canada because of the values he has described? Are there other factors that seem to be at play in this incident? Be prepared to discuss your opinions and ideas after viewing the video. CBC News in Review • September 2006 • Page 19 TORONTO ARRESTS: 18 FACE TERROR CHARGES Video Review Answer the ques- 1. How many people were arrested in Toronto on terrorism charges in June tions in the spaces 2006? ____________ provided. 2. How many of those arrested were minors? ____________ 3. What appeared to be the objectives of the arrested? Quote “While the over- whelming majority of Canada’s Mus- lims have been stunned by this development, few 4. Why were these alleged attacks to be launched? can honestly deny that they had seen this coming.” — Tarek Fatah, Mus- lim commentator 5. What complaints were raised by the suspects’ lawyers? (Toronto Star, June 7, 2006) 6. What role did the Internet apparently play in this plot? 7. What role did Mubin Shaikh play in the investigation? 8. What impact have the arrests had on the Muslim community in Canada? 9. What new development happened in early August? 10. What is your personal reaction to the news of this alleged plot? CBC News in Review • September 2006 • Page 20 TORONTO ARRESTS: 18 FACE TERROR CHARGES Timeline January 2003 Fahim Ahmad, later to Weapons are fired and what some Further Research be accused of leading a terrorist plot describe as a recruitment video is made To stay informed against Canadians in Canada, begins to there. The leaders are unaware that a about Canadian security organiza- post questions on the Islamic Web site paid informant, a former army cadet, tions, consider a ClearGuidance.com. During 2002 and has infiltrated the group. The group’s visit to the follow- 2003, Ahmad made over 750 posts. leaders see his training and skill as ing: CSIS at Another accused conspirator, Zakaria being of great potential benefit in www.csis-scrs.gc.ca, Amara, also became a member of preparing the plotters for future action. the RCMP at ClearGuidance. The Canadian Security Wearing winter camouflage, the www.rcmp.ca, and the Canadian Intelligence Service (CSIS) monitors group—which includes four youths— Border Services this Web site. engage in target practice and paintball Agency at battles. Evenings are spent watching www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca. Late 2003 CSIS approaches a former what sources have described as jihad moderator at ClearGuidance, Salmaan videos showing battles in Afghanistan, Ziauddin, and questions him about 20 to Chechnya, and Bosnia. Update 30 of its members. Among them are On August 31, Ahmad and Amara. January 2006 The group dubs the 2006, Prime Minis- ter Harper an- alleged plot “Operation Badr”—naming nounced that in August 13, 2005 Mohammed Dirie, it after one of the most important Is- future, 4 400 22, and Yasin Abdi Mohamed, 24, are lamic Battles of Destiny, when faith is Canadian Border arrested after a customs officer searches to be put to the test. The first discussion Agents will be their car at the border crossing at Fort of potential targets takes place. Alleg- trained and equipped with side- Erie, Ontario. Three semi-automatic edly, these include storming the Parlia- arms. handguns and 182 rounds of ammuni- ment Buildings in Ottawa and taking tion are seized. The car they are driving MPs hostage. Police claim that both is a rental—the credit card used to rent Ahmad and Amara said that it was Al the car is alleged to belong to Fahim Qaeda’s desire for world-wide jihad Ahmad. that inspired them. October 24, 2005 Dirie and February 2006 Investigators secretly Mohamed plead guilty to weapons search the home of Zakaria Amara and charges and are sentenced to two years claim to discover a functioning remote in the Kingston penitentiary. Later, on triggering device for a bomb. Forensic June 2, 2006, they are also charged with investigators examine public library terrorist activities. At that time, in computers Amara was using and later addition to other terrorist-related allege that he was looking up chemical charges, Fahim Ahmad is also charged suppliers. The group led by Amara with gun-smuggling offences related to creates an organization called Student the arrest of Dirie and Mohamed. Farmers. Because the amount of fertil- izer required was too much to steal, the December 18-24, 2005 Many of organization was allegedly to be used as the alleged plotters attend a training a cover for the purchase of three tonnes camp in Washago, north of Toronto. of ammonium nitrate. CBC News in Review • September 2006 • Page 21 March 2006 The group is believed to force deploys 400 officers in the opera- Did you know . have argued and split in two. One part, tion. Amara allegedly pays an addi- The ammonium centred in Mississauga, was more tional $4 000 for the ammonium nitrate nitrate sought by the Toronto men focused on a bomb plot than the group to the police agent. The police substi- was three times as in Scarborough. These members are tute a harmless powder for the chemical much as the believed to have been frustrated with and deliver it to the Newmarket ware- amount used in the the slow pace of the plot. Zakaria house, arresting the two men present bombing of a U.S. Amara and Jahmaal James assume there. Raids to the homes of the other government build- leadership of the Mississauga group. accused follow and result in the remain- ing in Oklahoma City, which killed They proceed to procure the necessary ing arrests. 168 people on April materials, trucks and drivers, and 19, 1995.
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