Canadian arrests mirror 9/11 [19 Pakistani's interested in Nuke Plant]

National Post ^ | Sat Aug 23, 2003 | Adrian Humphreys et al

[MalcolmS]

TORONTO - An anti-terrorism probe that led to the arrest of 19 Pakistani men, including one who took commercial flight training over a nuclear power plant, highlights security holes that should have been plugged after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, Ontario officials said.

The Public Security and Anti-Terrorism Unit, a federal national security task force, quietly arrested the group of mostly young men last week. The men appear to have used fraudulent student visas to enter Canada or to maintain their residency here.

Federal authorities documented a pattern of suspicious behaviour that shows an interest in Ontario's nuclear generators and bears similarities to the hijackers involved in the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States.

"It raises serious concerns about the issue of people being in the country on false documentation and taking flight training," Bob Runciman, Ontario's Minister of Public Security, said in an interview. "It sends out very bad vibes to everyone, given what's happened in the past and the fact that these situations are continuing to crop up in Canada. It is cause for concern."

Federal investigators found an "alarming" network of immigrants, tied to a Toronto diploma mill, whose activities include trying to get into a nuclear compound, gathering radioactive devices, moving house in the middle of the night and learning to fly, according to a document summarizing the case presented at immigration detention hearings this week.

"There is a pattern of fraudulent document use to obtain or maintain immigration status," the document says. "To enter and/or remain in a country by misrepresentation is a known ruse used by persons of security concern.

"The majority have not sought to regularize their status in Canada and although they appear to have the ability to support themselves in Canada, they have no clear source of income."

The investigation was sparked by an immigration officer who grew suspicious about a student applying for permanent resident status.

The officer could not verify claims the person attended the Ottawa Business College or even confirm that the school existed, according to the document. He also questioned a bank statement showing a $40,000 balance but no identifiable source of income.

A police search of records at the school turned up 31 people who appear to have fraudulently used the school to enter or stay in Canada; 19 were arrested.

Most are between 18 and 33 who, with one exception, have connections to Pakistan's Punjab province, noted for its Sunni Muslim extremism, authorities say.

The majority entered Canada as students, starting in January, 1998. None have entered through this scheme since Sept. 5, 2001, shortly before the attacks on the U.S.

They have not actually studied or have done so in a "dilatory" fashion. Federal authorities were alarmed that the group's associates have access to nuclear gauges, a device commonly used in construction. The theft of such a device is also linked to the group, the authorities allege.

Cesium-137, a component of the gauges, is described as a likely source for construction of a so-called dirty bomb, a crude nuclear bomb.

The men lived simply and moved often.

"Generally, the only items reported in the residences are mattresses on the floor and a computer. One cluster left an apartment during the night and discarded all of their belongings: mattresses, clothing and computer shells, apparently taking only the computer hard drive upon vacating an apartment," the document says.

"They appear to reside in clusters of four or five young males and appear to change residences in clusters and/or interchange addresses with other clusters."

One of the men's roommates provided a landlord with a letter of reference from Global Relief Foundation, Inc., which has been identified by the United Nations as a group that provides financial support to terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda.

Mr. Runciman and other provincial authorities said the case required intensive action to reduce lapses in Canada's immigration and security systems. "We need to know how many student visas have been issued by the federal government; how many of these schools have had security or background checks; how many of the students are still in Canada even though their visa has expired," he said.

He has also asked for a review of the province's regulation of non-degree granting schools and their ownership.

The issue of foreign nationals abusing student visas was a primary focus of the U.S. government in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Of the 19 hijackers involved in the attacks, one came to the United States on a student visa and two others applied for student status and were awaiting an answer. The flight school in Florida where Mohamed Atta and Marwan Al-Shehhi had applied received letters of approval from U.S. immigration authorities six months after they each crashed an airliner into the World Trade Center.

Also, the driver of the van used in the deadly 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center had entered the U.S. on a student visa. He was able to remain for years there even after dropping out of school.

The arrests also highlighted concerns over the security of Canada's nuclear reactors. Two of the group were found by police trying to enter the Pickering nuclear power station at 4:15 a.m. on a cool, damp night. They allegedly asked officers for permission to enter the perimeter to go for a walk on the beach. And one took flight training that took him over the Pickering nuclear site.

"There has been a great deal of work done since Sept. 11 on our nuclear facilities," said James Young, Ontario's Commissioner of Public Safety. "There's been greater security checks of those that work there; there has been additional physical security added at plants.... There has been a hardening and enhancement of the perimeter. The problem that has remained, and does remain, is how to make them secure in terms of flyovers."

Michel Clèroux, a spokesman for the Nuclear Safety Commission, said imposing no-fly zones over nuclear facilities is "not a practical option." Many of the nuclear stations are in the midst of heavily populated areas with busy air traffic. Imposing no-fly zones around the plants would be too disruptive, he said.

Mohammed Syed, a Toronto lawyer representing two of the men, accused the government of using public fears over terrorism to keep his clients behind bars. "The allegations are so sketchy and so flimsy it boggles the mind they would be detained as security risks," Mr. Syed said. "I think it's over-reaction on [the authorities'] part, partly because of Sept. 11 and because all these males are Muslim," he said. "That, to me, smacks of racism."

Terrorism specialists, however, said the case should be watched closely.

"At best, this is a large immigration fraud," said a counter-terrorism official who did not want to be named. "At worst, it is something very nefarious that reflects some of the things that we've been worrying about for some time. This is a glass half-full/glass half-empty story: It's good they were caught, but why did they get in?"

Mark Dunn, spokesman for Denis Coderre, the federal Immigration Minister, said the arrests illustrate the collaborative efforts of the RCMP, Immigration officials and other law enforcement agencies.

Mr. Runciman, however, complained Ontario's police agencies were not informed of the operation.

[MalcolmS]

If only another 19 men had been arrested in August 2001.

[rageaholic]

Socialist P.C. Canada is an ideal advanced training camp and base to launch an assault on the USA. There are probably similar cells operating in Mexico.

[ConservativeMan55]

Drudge had a headline on his page yesterday. He never linked it to an article but it said that we are monitoring 12 different cells right here in the US.

[prairiebreeze]

You're probably right. But I'm grateful they nabbed these 19. Gotta see the progress when I happens.

Prairie

[syriacus]

Thanks for posting this.

[Publius6961]

'Federal investigators found an "alarming" network of immigrants, tied to a Toronto diploma mill, whose activities include trying to get into a nuclear compound...'

Of course, people disposed to permanent ignorance and worshipping the "feelgood" gods of PC and multiculturalism are incapable of seeing that setting up a 500-student phony school, maintaining it (even on paper) requires a huge support structure that goes far beyond 19 'misguided' Pakistanis.
Both in terms of financial as well as moral support.

The long term planning inherent in the move, as well as the commitment to the purpose of such fraud should make people's hair stand on end, and prompt serious thought about "naturalized" citizens from certain areas of the world.

[Publius6961]

There are probably similar cells operating in Mexico.

Social attitudes and structures in Mexico are not normally things we admire or consider desireable.
In this case it is a very good thing, since "tolerance" is non-existent there and there is a no-BS attitude about strange people engaging in strange behavior.

The odds of successfully being an undercover muslim terrorist cell in Mexico are considerably lower than in Canada and the US.

[prarie earth]

Does anyone have a link to the Toronto Star?

Someone also said on another that they arrested a '20th Candian highjacker' on drug charges and rather then being arrested he jumped from a 7th floor balcony.

[prarie earth]

Good job Canada! Thanks neighbor

[concerned about politics]

Does anyone have a link to the Toronto Star?

No, but I have the Stairway to Heaven CD.

[concerned about politics]

Someone also said on another that they arrested a '20th Candian highjacker' on drug charges and rather then being arrested he jumped from a 7th floor balcony.

Wow. That's creepy. He'd rather die than talk. Ouch.

[mtbopfuyn]

It's good they were caught, but why did they get in?

Um, maybe they got in because Canada is asleep at the wheel, ya think? The question now is will this cause them to wake up and help up with the border.

[prarie earth]

these guys were the real deal, on visas from a fake school..more details http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1061503819120&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154

[NautiNurse]

This is a big get. Great work O Canada! Keep it up.

[mountaineer]

.

[rageaholic]

I wonder if these are the same Pakistanis who were nabbed while taking photos outside a nuclear power plant in the USA about a year or two ago.

[Bill Davis FR]

well done canada...

[optimistically_conservative]

Socialist P.C. Canada is an ideal advanced training camp and base to launch an assault on the USA. There are probably similar cells operating in Mexico.

Yep, those governments and the Talibani's are no different in allowing AQ operations and training bases.

[prarie earth]

They were crossing the border according to the Toronto Star article.

[Guillermo]

But I thought that since Canada was so Advanced and Tolerant, and opposed the war to disarm Iraq, that the Mohammedan Terrorists would leave them alone.

[TN4Liberty]

Remember Louis Farakhan's speech at the Several Dozen Men March? Seems that he did a lot of numerology that kept summing to the number 19. I remember thinking when news of the 19 hijackers came out if there was something special about this number. Anyone know?

[prarie earth]

hooorah Canada!

[Huggy]

In addition to those arrested, there is (and has been) an indication of al Qaeda and al Qaeda and Hamas supporters with stolen Saudi and French passports intent on entering the US in advance of the two-year 9/11 anniversary.

Source: www.HomelandSecurityUS.com

Yes, its my site, but no, this is not meant for self-promotion. Self-preservation perhaps, along with a more realistic picture of what is going on out there. Both stories ("Canadian Arrests" and "Entry of Operatives" into the US are closely related).

[altayann]

One in which terrorists were actually caught before they committed an atrocity, unlike other nations that could be mentioned.

Let's keep the ignorant comments to a minimum, shall we?

[CyberAnt]

"because all these males are Muslim, he said. That, to me, smacks of racism"

Boy .. they learn fast don't they.

[dr_who_2]

Canada and the US should stop giving out student visas and severely curtail any immigration from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and a number of other Islamic states. We simply don't need them.

[aristeides]

These 19 guys were also arrested on Aug. 19th. I think Canadian law enforcement was sending a message back at the Islamist numerologists.

[aristeides]

Speaking of 19, didn't last week's bombings in Baghdad and Jerusalem also take place on Aug. 19th?

[aristeides]

What and where is the Pickering nuclear power plant? And is it legal to fly over a nuclear power plant in a private plane?

[DannyTN]

What's the deal with the number 19?

[Libertina]

There was a FReeper post about this. Sorry, no link... but there are numbers which celebrate events, and are considered (in their numerology) to be "lucky." 19, 91(1) are but a couple. If I find the site I will reply to you...

[Libertina]

Link to some significant numbers
This isn't the link I was referring to, but it is a good one as well.

[MalcolmS]

CANDU (Heavy water) style nuclear reactor located a few miles east of Toronto. Four reactors totally 4,120 Megawatts. Provides power for Toronto, Ontario region.

http://www.opg.com/ops/N_pickering.asp

Don't know if there are any flight restrictions.


And here's something strange which I hope is not related.

Four Stabbings occur simultaneously at different locations at Canadian National Exhibition (giant fall fair) in Toronto

http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Story/20030823-008/page.asp

[Squawk 8888]

The Pickering power plant is on Lake Ontario, 20 nautical miles east of downtown Toronto (~2 miles east of city limits). Four of the eight reactors were restarted last month after being refurbished.

The station is under a flight path commonly used by students based at Toronto City Centre Airport. The only restriction on the airspace is the standard for all urban areas- aircraft must remain at least 1000 feet above the tallest obstacle in a one-mile radius.

[pointsal]

Hmmmm....anyone sent this article to Kofi or Dr. Hans B.?
These fellas are just visiting and trying to learn French and expand their knowledge of world affairs.

[Johnny Canuck]

19 and Arab/Islamic Number Magic

1. Squaring the number 19 yields 361, which is proximal to both 360 - the number of degrees in a circle, and 365 – the number of days in a year. One significance of 19, then, lies in squaring it, ‘squaring (thus achieving) the circle’, symbol of perfection.
2. Apparently, the Koran has numerous explicit and implicit references to the number 19, although I’ve not personally verified this.
3. The B’ahai sacred calendar consists of 19 months of 19 days each, totaling 361 days.
4. The use of ‘magic squares’ - based on odd numbers like 3,5,7,9 (and 19) - is widespread around the globe. Feng Shui home floor plans are based on a 3 X 3 magic square. The 5 X 5 magic square is a popular western puzzle. In Indian Vastu, temple floor plans are based on a 9 X 9 magic square. The South Indian Sri Yantra (geometric representation of God), can be ‘roughed out’ using a 7 X 7 magic square, (although more precise methods exist). Some scholars aver that the Giza plateau complex is laid out in accordance with an underlying magic square template.
5. In any magic square, there is exactly one central square. In the 19 X 19 magic square, omitting or blacking out the central square leaves exactly 360 squares, suggestive of both the 360 degree compass and an idealized year of 360 days.
6. An arithmetic peculiarity of 19 and its square 361 – is a shared ‘reducibility’ to a value of 1. By performing the medieval arithmetical operation of ‘casting out nines’, (i.e. ‘reducing to a single digit’), 19 and its square 361 each yield 1. As such, both 19 and 361 are veiled or implicit references to the “1”-ness (oneness) of God or Allah.
7. The only other similar numbers from this point of view (i.e. that are 2-digit, odd, prime, and - along with their squares - ‘reducible’ to 1), are 37 and 73 respectively. (55 and 91 are disallowed because neither is prime.) Whether 37 and 73 figure prominently in Arab/Moslem number magic is unknown to me at this time. (Interestingly, (2 X 19) – 1 = 37, and (2 X 37) - 1) = 73.

[piasa]

In light of the renewal of interest in Shukrijumah and Siddiqui and so on, I'm rebumping this.

Links to the terror charity 'Global Relief Foundation.'

Acquisition of items containing radioactive material

And a keen interest in nuclear power plant security.

[Cindy]

Info Bump - Thanks Piasa

[Cindy]

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE - Office of the Spokesman - PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT: "WORLDWIDE CAUTION" (Read More...)

On The Net...JIHAD WATCH.org (Read More...)

FBI.gov - War On Terrorism: "SEEKING INFORMATION" (View Posters. Read More...)

FBI.gov: "MOST WANTED TERRORISTS" (View Posters. Read More...)

[Calpernia]

Thanks for the ping.

[Calpernia]

In reference to the Buffalo information I just sent you....and may tie to this article...

Mohamed Albanna, Buffalo cell, has recently sold some property in Ontario.

Also, Adnan El Shukrijumah was involved in activities in Canada in reference to radioactive material and organizing a dirty bomb plot.

Could be tied to this article plus the stuff I sent earlier.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[The Mayor]

Thankyou!

[stocksthatgoup]

If only we could get the Islamists to like us...then we would be safe.(/sarcasm)