Alleged? http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060603/arrests_reactio n_060603/20060603?hub=Canada
Leaders condemn alleged Toronto terrorist plot Updated Sat. Jun. 3 2006 11:51 PM ET CTV.ca News Staff Prime Minister Stephen Harper praised police Saturday for arresting 17 suspects who allegedly planned attacks on Canadian soil, and warned that the country is not immune to terrorism. "Today, Canada's security and intelligence measures worked," said Harper. "Canada's new government will pursue its efforts to ensure the national security of all Canadians." Later in the day, during an address to 224 new military recruits at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, the prime minister said Canada's unique values make the nation a target for terrorists. "We are a target because of who we are, how we live, our society, our diversity and our values -- values such as freedom, democracy and the rule of law -- the values that make Canada great," Harper told the recruits. Meanwhile, Toronto Mayor David Miller revealed that Police Chief Bill Blair had kept him informed of the terror probe since January. "I was very concerned, but I'm very relieved and pleased at the joint work of the police services," Miller said. "I think we can take a lot of reassurance from the fact their work not only uncovered the actions as they were ongoing, but knew exactly when to step in to prevent any serious harm from occurring." In total, police arrested 12 men and five youths on terrorism charges Friday. The group is suspected of plotting to bomb targets in Southern Ontario. Police found three tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, which can be used to make explosives. "It was their intent to use it for a terrorist attack," alleged RCMP assistant commissioner Mike McDonell. "If I can put this in context for you, the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people was completed with only one tonne of ammonium nitrate." "This group posed a real and serious threat," he added. "It had the capacity and intent to carry out these acts." Suspects appear in court Fifteen of the 17 suspects appeared in a Brampton, Ont. court today, their hands and feet shackled together. Some family members dodged questions from reporters, but the father of one of the accused told the media he was stunned by the developments. "I'm shocked. It's crazy. It's just crazy. It has no meaning whatsoever," said Mohammed Abdelhaleen, father of accused 30-year-old Shareef Abdelhaleen. Imam Aly Hindy, from the Salaheddin Islamic Centre near Toronto, claimed security agencies constantly monitor the centre's mosque and Muslims were being falsely accused. "It's not terrorism. It could be some criminal activity with a few guys, that's all," Hindy told The Canadian Press. Defence lawyer Rocco Galati is representing two of the accused, one of whom was born in Canada and is a graduate of the medical sciences program at McMaster University in Hamilton. The other arrived here when he was 10 years old. "My clients come from very respectful, long-standing residents of Canada, all Canadian citizens," Galati told reporters. "Both of their families are very well-established professionals, well-established families, (with) no criminal past whatsoever." The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) issued a release praising police efforts to combat terrorism. "As Canadian Muslims we unequivocally condemn terrorism in all of its forms. Canada is our home and we are deeply concerned about the safety of our country," said CAIR-CAN executive director Karl Nickner. With a report from The Canadian Press [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Everything you need is one click away. Make Yahoo! your home page now. http://us.click.yahoo.com/AHchtC/4FxNAA/yQLSAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
