Toronto terror plot foiled

[BEER980]

conestogo_flood had asked about any terror info in the Ontario area in the Iran Nuke thread so here is one. With the chatter of two more possible attacks next week I hope we see a few more of these stories.

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.

Source

[wx247]

I have heard rumors that they were planning to do something to the Toronto Trade Center. Can you confirm or deny this?

[Brent]

3 tons of ammonium nitrate... three times as much used in the 1995 OKC bombing.

[conestogo_flood]

Yup, I've been following it on the news. There has been 17 arrests.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national ... pects.html

There is another title on http://www.cbc.ca and it says 'Serious' bomb plot against Canada averted: police.

The CBC just said "it was a training camp".

[TexasStooge]

WHEW!!! Glad that plot's been foiled.

[Janice]

Hope they didn't have anything else stashed somewhere with more people involved.

[x-y-no]

Good news ... hope they got the whole cell.

[BEER980]

wx247 only one target was mentioned, the headquarters of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. The story about the two that were filming the subway was planted from one source I read. There has been talk of an attack on Monday in Kuala Lumpur and or the Sears Tower/311 South Wacker Drive building in Chicago. Kuala Lumpur is home to the Petronas Towers, the current tallest twin towers in the world, standing at 1,483 feet with 88 floors. The World Cup is also rumored to be hit by a false flag attack.

[Brent]

U.S. link probed

Some suspects "may have had limited contact with the two people recently arrested from Georgia," FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said, referring to Syed Ahmed, a 21-year-old Georgia Insitute of Technology student, and 19-year-old Ehsanul Sadequee.

Both men traveled from Atlanta to Canada in March 2005 to meet with three men who were the subjects of an FBI international terrorism investigation, an FBI agent said, according to an affidavit unsealed in April.

[wx247]

wx247 only one target was mentioned, the headquarters of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. The story about the two that were filming the subway was planted from one source I read. There has been talk of an attack on Monday in Kuala Lumpur and or the Sears Tower/311 South Wacker Drive building in Chicago. Kuala Lumpur is home to the Petronas Towers, the current tallest twin towers in the world, standing at 1,483 feet with 88 floors. The World Cup is also rumored to be hit by a false flag attack.

Thanks for the info.

[tropicana]

Very scary for sure, to think that people like this live and associate with everyday people.
There is no question that these 17 people arrested are guilty...I mean what else do you do with all that ammonium nitrate.
They cannot be allowed back into society.

Even though they the Toronto Police denied that the TTC (the subway system) was singled out for the terror attack... it is a very likely target and I'm sure they just said that to not panic the entire populace of the city.

Another very likely target would be the CN Tower, for that is after all, Toronto's icon.

I have to say though, I was at work today (near the Air Canada Center) and I'd have to say business was much slower than normal..but that was likely in part to the incessant rains which have been falling all day in the Toronto region.

-justin-

[wx247]

Oh, you know what? I bet the TTC they were talking about was the subway system. I assumed it was the Toronto Trade Center. That makes more sense. You just cleared a lot of things up tropicana! Hope you all stay safe up there.

[JTD]

Major coverage up here on this. I've been worried about a terrorist attack in Canada for a long time.

[tropicana]

Oh, you know what? I bet the TTC they were talking about was the subway system. I assumed it was the Toronto Trade Center. That makes more sense. You just cleared a lot of things up tropicana! Hope you all stay safe up there.

Yeah I was wondering where the Toronto Trade Center was...I never even heard of that...but didn't wanna ask since I live here and should know and didn't wanna appear silly. LOL

The TTC stands for Toronto Transit Commission...(also widely known as the Red Rocket) ..it is the transportation heart of the city, covering all the subways, buses and streetcars (electric trams that run along major roads downtown) ....the subway system estimates to carry between 800,000 and 900,000 commuters daily!

Thanks for the good wishes!

0justin-

[wx247]

You were afraid to ask and look stupid and I was doing it on my own freely. Isn't life grand?