Cops thwart al Qaeda-inspired plot aimed at Ontario targets

NEWS RELEASES

ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE

PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER

******************* Twelve arrested on anti-terrorism charges TORONTO, June 3 - On Friday, June 2, 2006, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and partners of the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team arrested 12 individuals and charged them under Section 83 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

"This group took steps to acquire three tonnes of ammonium nitrate and other components necessary to create explosive devices," said Assistant Commissioner Mike McDonell. "To put this in context, the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people took one tonne of ammonium nitrate." Arrested and charged with offences under the Criminal Code of Canada are:

1. Fahim Ahmad, 21, of Robinstone Drive, Toronto, Ontario 2. Zakaria Amara, 20, of Periwinkle Crescent, Mississauga, Ontario 3. Asad Ansari, 21, of Rosehurst Drive, Mississauga, Ontario 4. Shareef Abdelhaleen, 30, of Lowville Heights, Mississauga, Ontario 5. Qayyum Abdul Jamal, 43, of Montevideo Road, Mississauga, Ontario 6. Mohammed Dirie, 22, Kingston, Ontario 7. Yasim Abdi Mohamed, 24, Kingston, Ontario

8. Jahmaal James, 23, of Trudelle Street, Toronto, Ontario 9. Amin Mohamed Durrani, 19, of Stonehill Court, Toronto, Ontario 10. Steven Vikash Chand alias Abdul Shakur, 25, of Treverton Drive, Toronto, Ontario 11. Ahmad Mustafa Ghany, 21, of Robin Drive, Mississauga, Ontario 12. Saad Khalid, 19, of Eclipse Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario

"Our investigation and arrests prevented the assembly of explosive devices and attacks being carried out. At all times, the focus of our investigation was the safety and protection of the public," concluded McDonell.

******************* Statement by the Prime Minister on terrorism arrests made in Toronto

Ottawa, Ontario - Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement in relation to the recent arrests made in Toronto, announced earlier today:

"This morning, Canadians awoke to the news that our law enforcement and national security agencies have arrested 17 individuals for terrorism related offences.

"These individuals were allegedly intent on committing acts of terrorism against their own country and their own people.

"As we have said on many occasions, Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism. Through the work and cooperation of the RCMP, CSIS, local law enforcement and Toronto's Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET), acts of violence by extremist groups may have been prevented.

"Today, Canada's security and intelligence measures worked. Canada's new government will pursue its efforts to ensure the national security of all Canadians."

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