Posted on 06/04/2006 6:45:23 AM PDT by IrishMike
Canadian authorities yesterday declared they had foiled a chilling bomb plot aimed at several targets in their country - busting an al Qaeda-inspired cell with likely connections to a pair of Atlanta-area men indicted on terror charges. The 17 suspects - including five youths 18 or under - were busted Friday night and yesterday morning at locations in and around Toronto, following a delivery of three tons of ammonium nitrate and other explosive components.
The tonnage was three times the amount used in the 1995 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City.
New York City police said they were aware of the arrests, but "nothing in the investigation has caused the NYPD to change its counter-terrorism posture in New York," said spokesman Paul Browne.
Evidence of the Canadian cell's bomb-making materials, including a cellphone bomb detonator, was displayed at a news conference in Toronto yesterday.
"The modus operandi is very similar to other attacks that have taken place around the world," said Mike McDonell, assistant commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Targets reportedly included Canada's Parliament buildings in Ottawa and the downtown Toronto offices of its spy agency, Canadian Security Intelligence Service. Media reports said a major tourist site in Toronto was also a target.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
RoP on the march again
Native born Americans or here on expired student visas?
What I want to know is how these people got thier hands on 3000 lbs of Ammonium Nitrate. After OKC, I thought there were worldwide safeguards put into place to prevent exactly this kind of situation from happening.
Maybe it was the tracking of the AN that resulted in the raid; I have not heard that yet, but I suppose it is possible...
.....What I want to know is how these people got thier hands on 3000 lbs of Ammonium Nitrate. After OKC, I thought there were worldwide safeguards put into place to prevent exactly this kind of situation from happening....
Good point, I'm not sure just how or if there are any Canadian laws, regulations and/ or restrictions on chemicals, specially chemicals with potential hazardous or lethal use.
CANADA
I guess it wouldn't be that hard to accumulate so much, if you bought one or two bags from 50 different stores, over the course of a few weeks.
Discussion here on the ease with which it can be done.
A classic case of the media "inventing" the truth. This three times the amount quote has been repeated over and over until it is now accepted fact.
Google "Murrah Building Bombing", and you will get numerous links which report the OKC bombing was around 4800 to 5000 pounds of ammonium nitrate. Don't mean to downplay the Canadian bust, but if would help the cause if the reporting was a little more truthful/accurate.
What is the major tourist attraction in Toronto?
GOOD OBSERVATIONS.........Don't mean to downplay the Canadian bust, but if would help the cause if the reporting was a little more truthful/accurate....
But, then again, someone noticed.
They are in the slammer.
Ammonium nitrate isn't considered a hazardous chemical. As a farmer, I have to have a pesticide license to buy chemicals but anyone can buy fertilizer. Of course, in most places where you could get 3000 lbs of fertilizer they would know whether or not someone was a farmer and had a legitimate use for it.
Add some diesel and you've got the winning hand: ANFO.
.....Ammonium nitrate isn't considered a hazardous chemical. As a farmer, I have to have a pesticide license to buy chemicals but anyone can buy fertilizer. Of course, in most places where you could get 3000 lbs of fertilizer they would know whether or not someone was a farmer and had a legitimate use for it.......
That is very true. Being in the HVA/C business, having need for many types of chemicals (biocides, algaecides, corrosion control and inhibitors) people in my industry are required to have EPA licenses which require written tests in purchasing, storage, transportation and use of chemicals. We also have to maintain usage logs to explain consumption, all of which have to be presented for review and inspection to Federal EPA and state / local agencies.
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