Canadian authorities said Saturday they had foiled plans for terrorist attacks in southern Ontario with the arrests of 17 people who were "inspired by al-Qaida." The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they had arrested 12 male adults and five youths on terrorism-related charges, including plotting attacks with explosives on Canadian targets. The suspects were either citizens or residents of Canada and had trained together, they said.
"This group took steps to acquire three tons of ammonium nitrate and other components necessary to create explosive devices," said assistant Royal Canadian Mounted Police commissioner Mike McDonell.
That is three times the amount used to blow up the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, he said, referring to the April 19, 1995, attack that killed 168 people and injured more than 800.
"The men arrested yesterday are Canadian residents from a variety of backgrounds. For various reasons, they appeared to have become adherents of a violent ideology inspired by al-Qaida," said Luc Portelance, the assistant director of operations with CSIS — Canada's spy agency.
However, he said, there did not appear to be any direct link to Osama bin Laden's terrorist network.
Officials showed evidence of bomb making materials — including a cell phone-bomb detonator — a computer hard drive, camouflage uniforms and what appeared to be a door with bullet holes in it at a news conference Saturday.
The arrests were made Friday and about 400 officers were involved in the operation.
news.yahoo.com |
