Big news out of Canada this afternoon, as media report that a potentially deadly terrorist attack on a New York-to-Toronto passenger train has been foiled in a joint effort that included Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the FBI, and the Homeland Security:
Terror plot reportedly thwarted by Canada: "It was meant to be spectacular & there would have been a lot of carnage." http://t.co/oE60Ma3Oe5
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) April 22, 2013
More from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police:
Today, the RCMP arrested two individuals and charged them with conspiring to carry out a terrorist attack against a VIA passenger train. The accused have been charged under sections 248, 235 (1), 83.2, 83.18, 83.21 of the Criminal Code of Canada. As a result of extensive collaborative efforts, the RCMP was able to disrupt the threat early. While the RCMP believed that these individuals had the capacity and intent to carry out these criminal acts, there was no imminent threat to the general public, rail employees, train passengers or infrastructure.
RCMP: had this plot been carried out, innocent people would have been killed. #sl
— Genevieve Tomney (@genevievetomney) April 22, 2013
So far, two people have been arrested. Outlets report the suspects as Chiheb Esseghaier of Montreal and Raed Jasar of Toronto.
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Police: Chiheb Esseghaier and Raed Jaser were conspiring to carry out an al-Qaida supported attack against Via Rail in Canada
— KSTP (@KSTP) April 22, 2013
Two suspects are not canadian citizens: RCMP
— Genevieve Tomney (@genevievetomney) April 22, 2013
RCMP will NOT say where they are from or why or how they are in Canada, what their status is here. #sl
— Genevieve Tomney (@genevievetomney) April 22, 2013
Reports indicate that Al-Qaida was involved:
RCMP: plot was "al-Qaeda supported" #sl
— Genevieve Tomney (@genevievetomney) April 22, 2013
Both suspects in custody. Bail hearings for both suspects will be held tomorrow at Toronto's Old City Hall courthouse #sl
— Genevieve Tomney (@genevievetomney) April 22, 2013
RCMP: search warrants "literally being executed as we speak" don't know if weapons or explosives have been found. #sl
— Genevieve Tomney (@genevievetomney) April 22, 2013
Suspects were receiving support from al-Qaeda in Iran. Nothing to indicate this was anything state-sponsored. #sl
— Genevieve Tomney (@genevievetomney) April 22, 2013
The support being received from al-Qaeda was in the form of "direction and guidance" #sl
— Genevieve Tomney (@genevievetomney) April 22, 2013
***
Update:
RCMP escorts one of #Canada terror suspects from plane at Buttonville Airport, Ontario earlier this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/vHUMzdV43h
— Jon Williams (@WilliamsJon) April 22, 2013
VIDEO: Man charged in alleged Canadian terror plot escorted off plane at airport in #Toronto. http://t.co/4DNtcVDVU9 – @CP24
— Simon Ostler (@SimonOstler) April 22, 2013
MT @TomPodolec #BREAKING Exclusive: RCMP transport terror plot suspect to #Toronto Airport pic.twitter.com/G01uUtb861
— Simon Ostler (@SimonOstler) April 22, 2013
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