Posted on 06/02/2006 9:14:15 PM PDT by GMMAC
Bust nets suspected terrorists across GTA
Toronto red Star
Jun. 2, 2006. 11:56 PM
MICHELLE SHEPHARD AND STAN JOSEY
STAFF REPORTERS
Police from across the GTA, led by the RCMP's anti-terrorism task force, swooped down on as many as 12 locations Friday night to arrest members of what is being described as a homegrown terrorist cell. Police remained tight-lipped about the massive operation, but have scheduled a news conference for 10 a.m. Saturday.
RICK MADONIK/TORONTO STAR
This officer is one of numerous heavily-armed police standing guard in front of the Durham Regional Police station at Kingston and Brock roads in Pickering on Friday evening. A joint forces operation brought suspects there for processing.
RICK MADONIK/TORONTO STAR
A joint forces operation brings terrorism suspects for processing at the Durham Regional Police station at Kingston and Brock roads in Pickering on Friday evening.
Shortly after the first arrests the suspects were driven to a heavily-guarded Pickering police station.
The station, on Brock Rd. in Pickering, was surrounded by a heavy ring of police security. A long line of unmarked police cars with suspects sat inside the security perimeter. About every 15 minutes or so another car would be admitted to the station's underground parking garage, where suspects entered the station for processing.
Heavily-armed members of the Durham region tactical unit were stationed at one-metre intervals around the station. Dozens of plainclothes officers, and uniformed RCMP, Durham and Toronto police were involved in the processing.
According to the Star's sources, the Canadian spy service CSIS has been monitoring the group since 2004, and an RCMP criminal investigation was launched last year.
Police have not said why they acted Friday night, and would not say how well-organized the group is, or whether it is armed.
“It is very serious,” a source who asked not to be named told Canadian Press. "These people had plans.”
While the intended target is unclear, the plan was to detonate an explosive device in Ontario, the source said.
“That’s the tool of choice for anybody who wants to cause damage.”
For full coverage, including the background of the group and how it came to police attention, see the Saturday Star and come back to thestar.com for updates throughout the day.
With files from CP
Lots of people being arrested in the UK and Canada recently. It's probably going to disappoint our friends in Pakistan.
Word this AM is the target was the CN tower .
Where did you hear that?
What happened at LAX? Missed it.
T.O. bomb plot bust
Al-Qaida plan to attack subway system alleged as massive terror sweep nets suspects
By VIVIAN SONG AND BRETT CLARKSON, TORONTO SUN
TORONTO -- In a stunning development yesterday police made a sweeping terrorist bust within the Toronto area and said they expected to make several more arrests throughout the night.
"The RCMP, CSIS and the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team arrested individuals throughout the GTA today in relation to terrorist-related offences," confirmed RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Paradis.
As of about 9 p.m. last night, Paradis also added "there are ongoing arrests."
Though unconfirmed, sources have told the Sun police arrested an al-Qaida cell operating in Toronto that had planned to bomb the subway as early as Monday.
'TOOL OF CHOICE'
Another source told The Canadian Press that the arrests were related to an explosives plot.
"It is very serious," said a source who asked not to be named. "That's the tool of choice for anybody who wants to cause damage."
Just three days ago, Toronto Sun reports of two men filming at the Keele subway station raised alarm bells with Toronto police and CSIS.
Sources told the Sun the arrested individuals were amassing weapons.
"This is huge, this is massive."
The enforcement team also includes Greater Toronto Area police forces and the Department of Justice.
Officials remained tight-lipped about the nature of the arrests, refusing to reveal the number of people arrested, who was arrested, the nature of the terrorist activities, when or where the arrests were made.
Reports peg the number of arrests at eight and also say about a hundred officers were involved in the bust.
MISSISSAUGA RAID
Meanwhile, a quiet Mississauga neighbourhood got a shocking visit from ETF officers at about 6:30 p.m. who stormed the new subdivision and busted down the door of a Rosehurst Dr. home.
One neighbour described the arrested man as heavy-set, in his mid-50s with black hair and a beard, who appeared to be Muslim.
The RCMP is expected to release further details this morning at a news conference in Toronto.
At the Durham Regional Police Station, where it was speculated the arrested are being detained, at least three police officers armed with machine guns patrolled the building, which was sealed off with yellow tape.
Scores of police cars, officers and dogs also kept vigil over the the heavily guarded building keeping media outlets outside.
A convoy of SUVs, unmarked cars and minivans parked at the side of the building also appeared to hold some people.
vivian.song@tor.sunpub.com
He looks philippino to me, possibly Malayasian
The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist. We should be killing more of them faster. Need more troops in Iraq, not fewer.
Boston is a likely hiding place for terrorists. Friendly territory, for them.
Actually, the wealth of Mexico is held by politically connected folks, since Mexico still has a heavily state-managed economy. Of course, people like Slim (Lebanese, IIRC) and others - who may be technically Mexican but are actually simply members of the community of the world-wide uberrich - are the ones who really get the cream.
In the meantime, Mexico continues with its uncompetitive, bureaucratic socialist economy, which gives just enough in welfare and medical benefits to the poor so that they do not die in the streets, but never gives them an economy that gives them any future.
In that regard, they are twenty to thirty years ahead of the United States.
'Get inside, Get inside!' police shout
By VIVIAN SONG
TORONTO - Bob's 14-year-old daughter had been roller blading outside her house when suddenly fully armoured police officers spilled out of a tactical truck and shut down their neighbourhood.
"Get inside, get inside!" police, their guns drawn, shouted before storming a nearby house.
Bob -- not his real name -- recounted what happened in their normally quiet Mississauga neighbourhood last night saying the takedown was anything but routine.
Police would not confirm the incident is related to last night's arrests.
At about 6:30 p.m., Rosehurst Dr. became a scene straight out of a TV police drama.
"My daughter came running inside saying (the police) were here, busting somebody's door down," he said.
LOCKED DOWN
Though police had locked down the neighbourhood, Bob snuck outside and watched the drama unfold as half a dozen officers surrounded the house, their guns drawn.
After hearing a "big bang," which he couldn't identify, about eight officers that had stormed the house emerged with a heavy-set man Bob described as being in his mid-50s, with black hair and a black beard. He appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent, Bob said.
"They had him out in handcuffs and he wasn't resisting."
Later, two officers in white quarantine suits were seen entering the house, but Bob said he didn't see them take anything out.
SUSPICIOUS SCENE
In another twist, a few days ago a man and woman sitting idly in car on his street raised his suspicions.
"They were sitting outside by the street, doing nothing, just sitting there," Bob said.
He approached the pair, concerned they could be child predators.
When asked, "What are you doing here?" the pair apparently answered, "We're here to make your community safer."
He estimates the family moved to the new subdivision about two months ago. The family of four includes two children, a girl aged 16 and a boy aged about 10, who have been seen playing basketball outside.
At first I thought that the fellow with the angry expression was the terrorist. Then I thought for a second. He is sitting in the driver's seat, therefore he must be one of the policemen. For those of you who have never been there, Canadian cars drive on the right and steer from the left, just like cars in the United States.
Actually, one might be surprised to realize Detroit, Toledo, and Cleveland are really the hotbed. And very convenient to crossing the border to Canada.
Now to start my usual search for links, links, and more links....
can't wait till they attack a military base
TORONTO - In a stunning development yesterday, police made a sweeping terrorist bust within the GTA and expected to make several more arrests throughout the night.
"The RCMP, CSIS and the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team arrested individuals throughout the GTA today in relation to terrorist-related offences," confirmed RCMP spokesman Corp. Michele Paradis.
As of about 9 p.m. last night, Paradis also added "there are ongoing arrests."
Though unconfirmed, sources have told the Sun police arrested a possible home-grown al-Qaeda terrorist cell operating in Toronto that had planned to bomb the subway as early as Monday.
Just three days ago, Sun columnist Joe Warmington wrote about two men spotted filming the subway system on May 23 at Keele station, which raised alarm bells with Toronto Police and CSIS.
But sources also tell the Sun that the RCMP "planted" that story with the media, though reasons remain unclear.
Police had been watching several alleged terrorist camps since 2004 -- one of which is reported to be in the Muskokas near Bracebridge and another near Thunder Bay, a police source told Warmington late last night.
"Recently some officers followed two men who left the camp near Thunder Bay and headed to Toronto," said the source.
Another Sun source said there was a similar "terrorist" camp near Barry's Bay -- within an hour's drive of several Ontario nuclear operations.
Other source also tell the Sun the arrested individuals were amassing weapons.
"This is huge, this is massive."
Sources cited by the Canadian Press corroborate this claim, saying the suspects were arrested in the Toronto area for allegedly "plotting an attack with explosives."
"It is very serious," said a source who asked not to be named. "These people had plans."
While the targets were unclear, the aim was to detonate an explosive device in Ontario, they said.
"That's the tool of choice for anybody who wants to cause damage."
The enforcement team also includes GTA police forces and the department of justice.
Officials remained tight-lipped about the nature of the arrests, refusing to reveal the number of people arrested, who was arrested, the nature of the terrorist activities, when or where the arrests were made, fuelling conflicting reports.
Some news outlets discounted allegations the subway or the CN Tower were targets, and claimed the terrorists involved are not directly afilliated with al-Qaeda, but were inspired by them.
Others pegged the number of arrested at eight, and said the investigation involved around a hundred officers.
In November of 2002, al-Qaeda singled out six countries for supporting "the White House gang of butchers." Among them: Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Australia and Canada. Terrorists bombed London's subway system last July, killing 52 people.
Meanwhile, a quiet Mississauga neighbourhood got a shocking visit from ETF officers who stormed the new subdivision and busted down the door of a Rosehurst Dr. home at about 6:30 p.m. One neighbour described the arrested man as heavyset, in his mid-50s with black hair and a beard, who appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent.
At 7:15 p.m. last night, a highly unusual scene on the Gardiner Expressway raised the suspicions of Sun photo editor Rick VanSickle when he saw an ambulance flanked by two police cars driving east toward the city. VanSickle was between Islington and Royal York at the time and also saw a nondescript car and unmarked silver minivan with police lights parked at the side of the road.
"Normally when I see an ambulance there is no police escort. That's what struck me," he said.
The RCMP is expected to make some details available today at a news conference at the Toronto Congress Centre on Dixon Rd., also an unusual venue for such an announcement.
At the Durham Regional Police Station at Hwy. 2 and Brock Rd., where it was speculated the arrested are being detained, at least three police officers armed with machineguns patrolled the building, which was sealed off with yellow tape.
Scores of police cars, officers and dogs also kept vigil over the the heavily guarded building, keeping media outlets outside.
A convoy of SUVs, unmarked cars and minivans parked at the side of the building also appeared to hold some people.
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Please note there are nuclear plants at Pickering and at Chalk River, the latter being 1 hour from Barry's Bay.
I prefer the ISO date format (yyyy.mm.dd) - it sorts best in computers.
Law enforcement officers stand outside a police station where suspects were taken into custody on terrorism-related charges Friday night in Toronto.
A police officer stands guard in Pickering, Ont.
Then, this statement, "Mexico has a crap economy," is inaccurate, true?
Oh, it's both accurate and true. LOL!
How Internet monitoring sparked a CSIS investigation into a suspected homegrown terror cell
Jun. 3, 2006. 01:00 AM
MICHELLE SHEPHARD
STAFF REPORTER
Last night's dramatic police raid and arrest of as many as a dozen men — with more to come — marks the culmination of Canada's largest ever terrorism investigation into an alleged homegrown cell.
The chain of events began two years ago, sparked by local teenagers roving through Internet sites, reading and espousing anti-Western sentiments and vowing to attack at home, in the name of oppressed Muslims here and abroad.
Their words were sometimes encrypted, the Internet sites where they communicated allegedly restricted by passwords, but Canadian spies back in 2004 were reading them. And as the youths' words turned into actions, they began watching them.
According to sources close to the investigation, the suspects are teenagers and men in their 20s who had a relatively typical Canadian upbringing,
(excerpt)
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1149285034044&call_pageid=976163513378&col=969048863474
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