Straight Talk

Alleged terrorist plot against VIA Rail leads to two arrests in Canada

by Stephen Hui on April 22nd, 2013 at 1:11 PM
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      The RCMP claims it has foiled a plot to carry out a terrorist attack on a VIA passenger train, though there was "no imminent threat".

      Today (April 22), the federal police force announced the arrest of two men who live in the Montreal and Toronto areas.

      According to the Mounties, the accused had the "capacity and intent" to launch an attack.

      Chiheb Esseghaier and Raed Jaser face charges including conspiring to carry out an attack against, and conspiring to murder persons unknown for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a terrorist group.

      The investigation involved the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Canada Border Services Agency, and other police services.

      Comments

      5 Comments

      Jiff

      Apr 22, 2013 at 1:56pm

      Links to Al Qaeda!? Nowadays that could mean looking at a website, but since we'll get little in the way of proof or details, I guess we should just take their word for it.

      tough guy harper

      Apr 22, 2013 at 3:28pm

      Agree with both postings. The timing is suspect in light of the recent attacks on Justin Trudeau for his supposed lack of perspective and experience in these matters. Look for future announcements whenever Harper feels he needs to play the fear card to one up Liberals. Pure politics. Remember, the authorities stated that there was no imminent threat. If they monitor them so well already why the need to make arrests and make them public? And what does it mean to have the capacity to carry out something? Vague assertions of capacity and intent are no way to build a case in the court of public opinion.

      ACMESalesRep

      Apr 22, 2013 at 5:02pm

      Intent's something different, but doesn't *everybody* have the “capacity” to dream up some sort of terror scenario?

      It already sounds like the suspects had nothing but plans. Who wants to bet those plans were furthered by a helpful federal agent as part of a sting operation? That's certainly been the experience south of the border.

      Derp

      Apr 22, 2013 at 10:49pm

      This is suspicious for many reason

      - timed with the ramming of anti terrorist legislation, which we don't need we already have a criminal code

      - Al Qaeda in Iran? What? Iran + Sunni extremists = mortal enemies. Not to mention one of these supposed terrorists had a picture of Al Qaeda in Iraq's flag on his Linkedin. Seriously? A terrorist that uses Linkedin? Something's not right. Even the dumbest terrorist wouldn't advertise on there.

      - Most likely an entrapment setup by fed agents who radicalized them, sold them fake bombs and then arrested them.

      The large press conference was definitely what Bruce Schneier refers to as "Security theatre".