Al Qaeda-linked plot to attack passenger train broken up by Canadian,US [Canada creates Terrorists!]

Canadian authorities announced Monday they have broken up an Al Qaeda-linked terror plot to attack a passenger train as it crossed over a bridge in the Toronto area.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Monday that two suspects have been arrested on terrorism charges. Chiheb Esseghaier and Raed Jaser, who live in greater Montreal and Toronto -- were conspiring to carry out an Al Qaeda-supported attack against Via Rail, but posed no immediate threat to the public.

"It was definitely in the planning stage but not imminent," RCMP chief superintendent Jennifer Strachan told reporters at a news conference.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/04/22/canadian-police-announce-arrests-suspects-planning-major-terrorist-attack/#ixzz2RETC59Df

Quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3012387/posts

Canada tried, failed to deport VIA Rail terror suspect nine years ago
National Post ^ | April 25, 2013 | Stewart Bell
Posted on April 25, 2013 1:55:09 PM PDT by Squawk 8888

TORONTO — Canadian immigration authorities tried to deport the Toronto VIA Rail terror suspect nine years ago but never did so because, as a stateless Palestinian, he could not be sent to any other country, documents obtained by the National Post show.

Raed Jaser was allegedly working illegally under several aliases when he was arrested in August 2004 on an outstanding immigration warrant. Officials wanted to deport him because he had a string of criminal convictions but were forced to set him free after two days.

The government’s failure to deport Mr. Jaser allegedly proved costly for Canada: He and co-accused Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, an immigrant from Tunisia, were charged this week with plotting to derail a passenger train traveling from New York to Toronto.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.nationalpost.com ...

ADDING to post no. 21:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/137969135/Toronto-Terror-suspect-Raed-Jaser-refugee-document

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/04/25/exclusive-canada-tried-failed-to-deport-via-rail-terror-suspect-nine-years-ago/

“Canada tried, failed to deport VIA Rail terror suspect nine years ago
Stewart Bell | 13/04/25 | Last Updated: 13/04/25 9:10 PM ET

SNIPPET: “Raed Jaser was allegedly working illegally under several aliases when he was arrested in August, 2004, on an outstanding immigration warrant. Officials wanted to deport him because he had a string of criminal convictions but were ordered to set him free after two days.

The government’s failure to deport Mr. Jaser allegedly proved costly for Canada: He and co-accused Chiheb Esseghaier, an immigrant from Tunisia, were charged this week with plotting to derail a passenger train traveling from New York to Toronto.

Both remain in custody, while the FBI is holding a third man in New York.”

NOTE The following text is a quote:

www.fbi.gov/newyork/press-releases/2013/tunisian-man-charged-with-visa-fraud-related-to-terrorism-intended-to-remain-in-u.s.-to-facilitate-an-act-of-international-terrorism

Tunisian Man Charged with Visa Fraud Related to Terrorism, Intended to Remain in U.S. to Facilitate an Act of International Terrorism

U.S. Attorney’s Office
May 09, 2013

Southern District of New York

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; George Venizelos, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Raymond W. Kelly, the Police Commissioner of the city of New York (NYPD), today announced the unsealing of charges against Ahmed Abassi, a Tunisian citizen, for fraudulently applying for a work visa in order to remain in the United States to facilitate an act of international terrorism. Abassi was arrested on April 22, 2013, and was presented and arraigned on May 2 before U.S. District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum. Judge Cedarbaum has scheduled a conference in the case for 3:00 p.m. today.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, “As alleged, Ahmed Abassi had an evil purpose for seeking to remain in the United States—to commit acts of terror and develop a network of terrorists here, and to use this country as a base to support the efforts of terrorists internationally. Thanks to the extraordinary vigilance of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, Abassi has been thwarted and is being prosecuted for his alleged crimes. Protecting the residents of the Southern District, and all Americans, from terrorists is the number one priority of this office.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos said, “As alleged, Mr. Abassi came to the United States to pursue terrorist activity and support others in the same shameful pursuit. What Mr. Abassi didn’t know was that one of his associates, privy to the details of his plan, was an undercover FBI agent. The FBI and its Joint Terrorism Task Force partners will continue working tirelessly to protect the country from those who seek to do us harm. “

NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said, “The allegations in this case serve as still another reminder that terrorism has not abated, that we must remain vigilant, and that when we do, terrorist plots against us can be thwarted.”

As alleged in the indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and other documents filed in the case:

Abassi, who previously resided in Canada, traveled to the United States in mid-March 2013, where he remained until his arrest. While in the United States, Abassi, who was under surveillance by law enforcement agents at all times, maintained regular contact with an FBI undercover officer (the UC) and also met with Chiheb Esseghaier in New York City. Esseghaier, who was recently arrested in Canada and is currently incarcerated there on terrorism charges, was previously radicalized by Abassi. During Abassi’s discussions with Esseghaier and with the UC, which were recorded by the UC, Abassi discussed his desire to engage in terrorist acts against targets in the United States and other countries and his intention to provide support and funding to organizations engaged in terrorist activity—including the al Nusrah Front, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of State as an alias for Al Qaeda in Iraq—and to recruit other individuals for terrorist plots. In particular, Abassi discussed with the UC a number of individuals known to Abassi and/or to his associates, whom he described as like- minded and who, in his view, would be willing to engage in terrorist activity.

On April 12, 2013, Abassi and the UC discussed Abassi’s efforts to recruit others for terrorist plots and that he might be able to obtain immigration documents to remain in the United States, purportedly in order to work for the UC’s U.S.-based company. In reality, Abassi made clear that he wanted to obtain immigration documents and to remain in the United States so that he could engage in “projects” relating to future terrorist activities, including recruitment. Thereafter, Abassi made false statements on two immigration forms, under penalty of perjury, and subsequently mailed those forms to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for processing.

* * *

The indictment charges Abassi with two counts of knowingly making false statements in an application to the immigration authorities for a green card and work visa in order to facilitate an act of international terrorism. Each count carries a maximum term of 25 years in prison.

The charges and arrest of Abassi are the result of the close cooperative efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force—which principally consists of agents and detectives of the FBI and the NYPD—and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Mr. Bharara also thanked the National Security Division and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for their ongoing assistance.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys John P. Cronan, Michael Ferrara, and Benjamin A. Naftalis are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

ADDING to post no. 25:

Note: Videos included.

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/05/09/third-man-arrested-in-plot-to-derail-via-train

“Via suspects discussed alternative plans to poison air/water to kill up to 100,000 people: Court docs

Third man arrested in plot to derail train”

BY JESSICA MURPHY, PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU

FIRST POSTED: THURSDAY, MAY 09, 2013 03:12 PM EDT | UPDATED: THURSDAY, MAY 09, 2013 05:25 PM EDT

WASHINGTON, D.C. -

SNIPPET: “Court documents released by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York describe how Abassi and Esseghaier worked to hatch the alleged plan including that “the defendant noted that he had suggested an alternative plot — contaminating the air or water with bacteria in order to kill up to 100,000 people — but that Esseghaier was dismissive of that plan.””

SNIPPET: “Abassi’s next court date is set for June 11 in New York City.”

SNIPPET: “—with files from Daniel Proussalidis”

Note: Photo included.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/06/22/via_terror_plot_suspect_says_others_may_take_his_place.html

“Via terror plot: Suspect says others may take his place

“I am in jail, I have been neutralized, but tomorrow, maybe four or five Esseghaiers will appear amongst the one million and a half Muslims living in Canada.””

By: Wendy Gillis News reporter, Published on Sat Jun 22 2013

“

SNIPPET: “The former Université de Sherbrooke PhD student, who came from his native Tunisia in 2008, was arrested in a Montreal McDonald’s on April 22.”

SNIPPET: “Esseghaier did confirm he knew his co-accused in the plot, Raed Jaser, who was arrested in Toronto the same day. The two met at a Toronto mosque when Esseghaier left Sherbrooke and came to the city to meet other Muslims, he said.

He also confirmed he has travelled to Iran, where he said he went to visit friends.

Esseghaier did not reply when asked about Ahmed Abassi, a third man arrested in New York by counterterrorism authorities, who claim he had come to the U.S. to set up a terrorist cell.”

ADDING additional articles to post no. 28:

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/05/23/i-dont-want-a-book-written-by-humans-via-terror-plot-accused-again-rejects-criminal-code/

“‘I don’t want a book written by humans’: VIA terror plot accused again rejects Criminal Code”

by Megan O’Toole, Stewart Bell and Adrian Humphreys | 13/05/23 | Last Updated: 13/05/24 3:00 AM ET

SNIPPET: “Mr. Jaser brought Mr. Esseghaier to the mosque about six months ago but Mr. Ali said he had no indication they were planning anything. “That never occurred to my mind,” he said.

“There was only one time where he had a bunch of plasma TVs and he was asking me, talking about rewiring them and do you know anyone who could rewire them and that’s when I got a little bit alarmed.””

###
###

Document - Indictment - Copy:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/140452482/Abassi-Indictment

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/05/10/ordinary-student-was-considered-a-security-risk-before-he-was-connected-to-alleged-via-rail-terror-plot/

“‘Ordinary’ student was considered a security risk before becoming third man connected to alleged VIA Rail terror plot”

Graeme Hamilton and Stewart Bell | 13/05/10 | Last Updated: 13/05/10 9:18 PM ET

SNIPPET: “MONTREAL AND TORONTO — Ahmed Abassi could have had few complaints about the life Canada had given him. After arriving from Tunisia in 2010, he married and started working on a graduate degree in chemical engineering in Quebec City.”

SNIPPET: “Mr. Kenney has already ordered his officials to review the immigration histories of Mr. Esseghaier, also a Tunisian, and Mr. Jaser, who was born in the United Arab Emirates. Both terror suspects had received landed immigrant status since 2012 — in Mr. Jaser’s case despite being a failed refugee claimant with a string of criminal arrests.”

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