"It is extremely important that we work together to get it right."
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.
Where is that picture from?
FBI's Mueller: Hezbollah Busted in Mexican Smuggling Operation
Illegals from terrorist nations are crossing the border into Arizona.
I think the Administration and most of the MSM would like to downplay the risks associated with the Southern border. It doesn't play well in the immigration debate.
Not on 9/11... but howz'a 'bout Ahmed Ressam?
Toronto is one of my favorite cities in the world. Sadly, after spending a lot of time there over the past several years (I'm from Upstate NY), this does not surprise me in the least. I'm sure there are a lot of terrorist training camps up there, not to mention a huge support network in Ontario.
Good luck up there!
In Tetouan , the capital of North Morroco, a six year old girl , Nihad Afroun, was struck by her 50 year old teacher at her school in the Jbel Darssa quarter. The young girl had entered the classroom at the time when her teacher, Sidi Ahmed El Bekkal, was on his mat saying prayers. She had inadvertently stepped on his prayer mat after entering the room to go to her seat. When he finished prayers he got up and struck her severely for having disturbed him so she fell to the ground . The little girl sustained bruises to her eyes and several fractures to her upper part of her nose. As she was bleeding profusely her mother, Fatima Ouled Abdelwahhab, was rung and on arrival asked what had caused this. She had been told her daughter had ‘fallen’ but the little girl said ‘I walked on the little carpet. He hit me and I fell on the ground’. A Moroccan organisation for thedefence of Human Rights condemned the incident and the teacher for forcing the other students to deny what had happened. The child is receiving care in hospital and remains in the care of her mother.
I know how you feel, we in California get the same kind treatment from some fellow Freepers.
Woops, posted to the wrong person. See previous post on this thread for your answer.
I suggest you read the 9-11 report. There's a reason that AQ favored Saudis for its plots in the US. Number one was that until September 2002 (yes, a full year after 9-11) Canada was the ONLY western nation to grant visa waiver status to Saudis. The 9-11 Report is FILLED with busted terrorists in the US that came in through the Canadian border some on VALID passports. And those are just the ones that were caught.
I second that!
That would "get it right"
Thanks for the background. Disgusting and sad.
Think of it this way...the MSM and administration MAY want to play down the security risks associated with the southern border, but at least that's getting some play. Why doesn't the same debate happen for our northern border? Why is NOTHING ever mentioned about the US-Canadian border?
Could it be that Canada is our number 1 trading partner? Nah...couldn't be....
Toronto is a terrible place. Steer clear at all costs. I'm sure they are not too happy there because of the "racial profiling".
They were planning to attack within Canada though, not in the US...
This time...
Your riposte appreciated here. Two big laughs already this morning. CANWEST NEWS SERVICE.Contributor Randy Boswell leads off "Bubba's Blonde". A lovely picture of your former President - ah handsome dog, with Hilary, in Buffalo Wednesday. Then to the right willowy blond Belinda. Can this "friendship" hurt Hillary's chances?, quoth the article. This reference to her presidential ambitions.
We all need a good laugh. Next, I cannot wait for the redoubtable Toronto Star. The offended maiden aunt editorials, ad nauseum. What did we do to offend them? No doubt this will be echoed.
Hmm, the CN Tower would make a good minaret, says I. Then, the tongue in cheek clericals "holding out the hands of peace and friendship" -the Toronto Star and photo ops. Again- more ad nauseum. LOL
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