Major terror bust in Toronto

Toronto Sun (Canada) ^ | June 3, 2006 | VIVIAN SONG AND BRETT CLARKSON

[GMMAC]

Major terror bust in Toronto
At least 8 in 'terror' cell arrested as police foil possible attack on TTC

Toronto Sun
June 3, 2006

By VIVIAN SONG AND BRETT CLARKSON, TORONTO SUN

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.

[GMMAC]

"... what Canada has become over the last 35 years."

Look back to the Reagan-Mulroney era & our support for 'Desert Storm" & the real concern is the past decade or so.
Also, maybe think of Canada like New York State:
Once you get past the urban cesspools, both are chockablock full of very decent people.

Plus, Canada tends to lag behind the U.S. at times.
It could well be argued that your November 7, 2000 was our January 23, 2006.
Bill Clinton & Paul Martin were both moral bankrupts; only in somewhat different ways.
While Stephen Harper & George W. Bush were both greatly influenced in their beliefs by Ronald Reagan & Lady Thatcher (God bless 'em both!), I'm hoping our guy a little more so.

[Heartofsong83]

A couple of blocks from Etobicoke Creek does not help at all. You need to move at least 30 miles more, to somewhere like Flamborough, Milton, Acton, Caledon, Georgina or Clarington, to be out of the uber-liberalism.

[NY Attitude]

Thanks for the ping. How come I do not find this surprising. There is probably nastier items here in the US just waiting to be set off.

[albertabound]

"The traced at least a few of the 9-11 hijackers through the Canadian border,"

No they didn't. Please do not post unfounded gossip.


They picked up Rassam coming off the ferry to Port Angeles because the border patrol were tipped by the Mounties.

Nobody up here takes this problem lightly, espacially the new Conservative administration.

[Publius]

Let's look at what's been going on.

• Some 17 terrorists get picked up in Canada with enough bomb-making equipment to take out a large swath of Toronto or functions of the Canadian government.
• A cell in London is picked up -- but after a dirty bomb is deployed, probably to be detonated at a sports bar during the drunken World Cup festivities.
• Two weeks ago, a pair of Saudis are picked up after climbing on board a school bus in Tampa, perhaps a forerunner to a Beslan-type massacre in Florida.

Something big is brewing, and we're seeing the first signs of it.

[NY Attitude]

My point exactly. From all appearances, the administration does not seem to be concerned with sealing the border and going after those that would harm our country.

[ChadGore]

SCORE ONE FOR THE GOOD GUYS BUMP

[brightstar]

They did say it was a "home grown Al Qaeda cell". While I see your point, anyone who reads that article will know they were islamic.

Actually, the media up here in Canada are so frightened of using the words "Muslim" or "Islam" when discussing terrorism that many people don't make the connection. I actually have a friend who maintains that muslims had nothing to do with the World Trade Center bombing. Her sole source of news is the left-wing CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), Whenever I tell her that the WTC was brought down by muslim terrorists, she always responds, "no, it wasn't muslims, it was the Taliban, it was Al-Qaeda". This is because CBC broadcasts regarding 911 largely avoided using the words muslim and Islam. No doubt this was in keeping with their politically correct CBC sensibilities and probably to avoid offending the growing Muslim community in Canada. One of the most major events in modern history, and Canadian news sources can't be straight with people about who caused it and why.

And here it's happening again. Two words missing from this article:

1. Muslim

2. Islam

[GMMAC]

Oh please !!!

Here's an article I posted earlier - from the damned 'red' Star of all places! - which contains the word "Muslim" 4 times!

Sorry you've got a 'friend' who's a total left-wing idiot.
There's lots of them out there ... on both sides of the border.

Likewise, most of the msm is biased both here & Stateside.

While I likely despise the CBC at least as much as you, I'd hate to be on a desert island or wherever and have to make the tough choice between it & America's PBS.

[doc30]

After hearing about this story, I just went to the Globe and Mail to see what comments there were. And sure enough, there are smug Toronto residence saying essentialy 1) these people commited no crime and it's harassmetn to arrest somebody for owning a legal product and 2) Canadians are racist because the religion and racial origin of these Canadian citizens has not been announced so you cannot connect this with Islam. Gladly, though, those comments are in the minority with most people expressing thanks and congratulations to CSIS and the RCMP for a job well done.

[Minus_The_Bear]

PROS:

• Thwarted attack
• Possible retrival of new info (Computers etc)
• Could wake up Canadians to threat of terror

CONS:

• Possible backlash against Harper
• Could be used as arguement for pulling troops home

[GMMAC]

"A couple of blocks from Etobicoke Creek does not help at all. You need to move at least 30 miles more, to somewhere like Flamborough, Milton, Acton, Caledon, Georgina or Clarington, to be out of the uber-liberalism."

Aside from having to wait until the wife retires ...
... what! and lose my vantage point on the front lines ?!?!

[T'wit]

Just passed through substantial chunks of Canada twice. Before the trip, my cousin sent me a list of every Tim Horton located along our route. Nobody but a Canadian would appreciate how many ice capps, Timbits and calories we slurped up :-)

[scriblett]

Its been all over FOX -

For those who ask, TTC is Toronto Transit Commission, Toront's public transport.

[scriblett]

Ha ! I have a friend who believes 9/11 was an inside job - you know - Bush did it.
You should read some of the lefty Canadian websites; doncha know Harper is in cahoots with Bush, its a scam, so Harper can scare the sheeples and he can shore up the military.

[fanfan]

Nobody but a Canadian would appreciate how many ice capps, Timbits and calories we slurped up :-)

LOL!

It's all calorie free!

;-)

[fanfan]

Thanks Beagle.

We've got your back!

[Minutemen]

BTTT

[fanfan]

Toronto is what New York City used to be in the 70's.

Quickly becoming a war zone.


I spoke to a lady on the phone who had moved up from New Jersey.

She said she had been mugged 4 times in Toronto.
She'd been there 2 1/2 years.

I don't know if her story was true, but I know I've been mugged at gun point in Toronto, and I have no desire to go back.

[Cementjungle]

Still no mention in the article that they were islamofascist terrorists. (Bias? WHAT bias?)

From the CBC News Website:

Most of the suspects are Canadian citizens and all are residents, said police, who added that some are students, some are employed and some are unemployed.

The Mississauga suspects are Zakaria Amara, 20, Asad Ansari, 21, Shareef Abdelhaleen, 30, Qayyum Abdul Jamal, 43, Ahmad Mustafa Ghany, 21, and 19-year-old Saad Khalid.

Those from Toronto include Fahim Ahmad, 21, Jahmaal James, 23, Amin Mohamed Durrani, 19, and 25-year-old Steven Vikash Chand, alias Abdul Shakur.

The Kingston suspects were identified as 22-year-old Mohammed Dirie and 24-year-old Yasim Abdi Mohamed.

Shareef Abdelhaleen is an unmarried computer programmer of Egyptian descent, Galati said. He emigrated from Egypt at the age of 10 with his father who is now an engineer on contract with Atomic Energy of Canada, the lawyer said.