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Canada foils 'al-Qaeda linked' terror attack on train | Canada foils 'al-Qaeda linked' terror attack on train |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two foreign men living in Canada have been charged with plotting a terrorist attack on a passenger train with support from al-Qaeda elements in Iran. | |
The authorities say suspects Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, and Raed Jaser, 35, were arrested in Montreal and Toronto on Monday. | The authorities say suspects Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, and Raed Jaser, 35, were arrested in Montreal and Toronto on Monday. |
They allegedly planned to derail a passenger train in the greater Toronto area, but it is not clear when. | They allegedly planned to derail a passenger train in the greater Toronto area, but it is not clear when. |
Iran has denied any link to the suspects being held in Canada. | Iran has denied any link to the suspects being held in Canada. |
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told a press conference that the politics of extremists did not conform with those of Iran. | |
He accused Canada of following an "Iranophobic" project over the past few years. | He accused Canada of following an "Iranophobic" project over the past few years. |
The two suspects will appear in court on Tuesday for a bail hearing. | The two suspects will appear in court on Tuesday for a bail hearing. |
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the surveillance operation leading to the arrests was "a result of extensive collaborative efforts". | |
It said that FBI agents from the US were involved in helping to foil the attack. | |
The RCMP said the two men were not Canadian citizens and were supported by "al-Qaeda elements in Iran" although there was no evidence of state sponsorship. | |
Their plan was to derail a train operated by VIA Rail and "kill and hurt people". | |
RCMP Chief Superintendent Jennifer Strachan said the attack was "definitely in the planning stage but not imminent". | |
"We are alleging that these two individuals took steps and conducted activities to initiate a terrorist attack," she said. | |
"They watched trains and railways in the Greater Toronto area." | |
Chief Supt Strachan did not say if the route being targeted was a cross-border route with the US. | |
RCMP Assistant Commissioner James Malizia said: "Each and every terrorist arrest the RCMP makes sends a message and illustrates our strong resolve to root out terrorist threats and keep Canadians and our allies safe." | |
VIA Rail, which operates passenger rail services across Canada, said that "at no time" were passengers or members of the public in imminent danger. | |
There was no connection between the plot and last week's Boston Marathon bombings, a US justice department official was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. | There was no connection between the plot and last week's Boston Marathon bombings, a US justice department official was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. |
Canadian Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said the arrests showed that terrorism continued to be a real threat to Canada. | |
"Canada will not tolerate terrorist activity and we will not be used as a safe haven for terrorists or those who support terrorist activity," he said in parliament. |