Posted on 06/03/2006 5:46:07 AM PDT by 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.
Islamic community shocked by intrusion
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Font: * * * * Sarah Chapman, Calgary Herald
Published: Saturday, June 03, 2006
Members of a northeast Islamic centre were left frightened and shaken after three people entered the building during prayer time and started shouting expletives on Friday night.
It was the second incident in one week at the Al-Madinah Islamic Centre on Falsbridge Drive N.E.
It was really horrifying, said Shahzada Khan, who was one of the seven people praying inside when they heard someone kicking the rear exit door.
Khan said they ignored the sounds, not wanting to break their prayer.
Then, the nine people outside moved to the front of the building and began pounding on the glass windows. Three of them, two men and one woman, entered the centre and started shouting.
They were using vulgar words, the f-word. I thought they were going to throw something, Khan said, adding he couldnt see the group because they were facing the northeast wall.
I cant believe it. I cant accept it, still.
The intrusion scared the group inside, particularly an 11-year-old boy.
Members of the group called 911 and recorded license plate numbers and vehicle descriptions while police arrived on scene.
On May 26th at 11 p.m., someone drove a vehicle into the exterior wall of the building with such force, it separated the staircase inside from the wall, said Malik Ashraf, president of the centre.
Ashraf believes it may be the same group responsible for both incidents.
The timing is also disturbing to Ashraf.
The group descended on the centre the same evening as police arrested suspects in the Toronto-area for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack.
That is making me worry. There may be frustration and hate against Muslims and Islam, said Ashraf, adding he wants Calgarians to know that members of the centre condemn the actions of terrorists.
Anyone who is doing that, we want them to punished. I want to see them behind bars.
schapman@theherald.canwest.com
© Calgary Herald 2006
I'm SO glad to hear that! Mmmm... now I need to find another reason my clothes are too tight.
LOL!
Me too.
Let me know if you come up with anything.
;-)
I cant believe it. I cant accept it, still. The intrusion scared the group inside, particularly an 11-year-old boy.
OK.
Their friends are found with 3 Tons of explosive, and he's upset that someone used the F word in front of an 11 year old boy???
This is what they are saying.
Right?
Gee. :-(
I'm getting awfully frustrated with this situation.
ROFLOL!
First time I've seen that pic. :~D
Looks like we need two walls.
"Stand With America" Rally
Toronto ~ April 4, 2003
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.
Interesting. As I said, when I go there I usually stick around the tourist district or go cycling along that bike path that runs westward along the lake. I can't imagine that those areas are bad for muggings given that they're always crowded.
I hear ya though.
I noted post #15 yesterday, thanks very much.
I guess I look at it in a different light. When I go to Toronto I stay with my friends who own a tattoo shop, and the fact that there's usually 8 of us and we're almost always the craziest looking and heavily tattooed, we don't run into too many problems.
I've been to plenty of places worse than Toronto... PLENTY. You don't seem too proud of where you live or you'd fly a State flag on your FReeper page.
Yeah, that would help.
;-)
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