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Iran denies link to Canada train 'al-Qaeda plot' | Iran denies link to Canada train 'al-Qaeda plot' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Iran has denied any links to two men arrested in Canada on suspicion of planning an attack on a train. | Iran has denied any links to two men arrested in Canada on suspicion of planning an attack on a train. |
Canadian officials said an attack had been planned with support from al-Qaeda elements in Iran, although there was no evidence of state sponsorship. | Canadian officials said an attack had been planned with support from al-Qaeda elements in Iran, although there was no evidence of state sponsorship. |
Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, and Raed Jaser, 35, are due to appear in court on Tuesday for a bail hearing. | Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, and Raed Jaser, 35, are due to appear in court on Tuesday for a bail hearing. |
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said to suggest a link between al-Qaeda and Iran was "ridiculous". | Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said to suggest a link between al-Qaeda and Iran was "ridiculous". |
"This is the most hilarious thing I've heard in my 64 years," Mr Salehi told the Iranian Isna news agency. | "This is the most hilarious thing I've heard in my 64 years," Mr Salehi told the Iranian Isna news agency. |
"It is really ridiculous to link al-Qaeda to Iran. I hope that the Canadian authorities think a bit more rationally and pay attention to the consciousness of the people and world public opinion." | "It is really ridiculous to link al-Qaeda to Iran. I hope that the Canadian authorities think a bit more rationally and pay attention to the consciousness of the people and world public opinion." |
Al-Qaeda - a militant Salafist Islamic movement - preaches a radical anti-Shia ideology that places it firmly at odds with Shia Iran. | Al-Qaeda - a militant Salafist Islamic movement - preaches a radical anti-Shia ideology that places it firmly at odds with Shia Iran. |
However, analysts say that despite this enmity, al-Qaeda and Iran have tolerated one another where it suits them. | However, analysts say that despite this enmity, al-Qaeda and Iran have tolerated one another where it suits them. |
Last September Canada severed diplomatic ties with Iran, closing its embassy in Tehran and expelling all remaining Iranian diplomats from Canada. | Last September Canada severed diplomatic ties with Iran, closing its embassy in Tehran and expelling all remaining Iranian diplomats from Canada. |
At the time Foreign Minister John Baird said Canada viewed Iran "as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today". | At the time Foreign Minister John Baird said Canada viewed Iran "as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today". |
Canadian authorities said the two suspects were arrested in Montreal and Toronto on Monday. They are not Canadian citizens but their nationalities have not yet been officially confirmed. | |
According to Canadian media reports, Mr Esseghaier is a Tunisian national while Mr Jaser is thought to be a Palestinian with citizenship in the United Arab Emirates. | |
Canada's Globe and Mail reported that the pair had been under investigation since last year following a tip-off by a concerned imam in the Toronto Muslim community. | Canada's Globe and Mail reported that the pair had been under investigation since last year following a tip-off by a concerned imam in the Toronto Muslim community. |
The imam was worried that young people in his community were being corrupted by an extremist, the report said. | The imam was worried that young people in his community were being corrupted by an extremist, the report said. |
FBI involved | FBI involved |
It is alleged that the two had planned to derail a passenger train in the greater Toronto area, but it is not clear when. | It is alleged that the two had planned to derail a passenger train in the greater Toronto area, but it is not clear when. |
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the surveillance operation leading to the arrests was "a result of extensive collaborative efforts". | The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the surveillance operation leading to the arrests was "a result of extensive collaborative efforts". |
It said FBI agents from the US were involved in helping to foil the attack, although a US justice department official said there was no connection between the plot and last week's Boston Marathon bombings. | It said FBI agents from the US were involved in helping to foil the attack, although a US justice department official said there was no connection between the plot and last week's Boston Marathon bombings. |
The RCMP said the two men, who were not Canadian citizens, had planned to derail a train operated by VIA Rail and "kill and hurt people". | The RCMP said the two men, who were not Canadian citizens, had planned 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". | 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. | "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." | "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. | Chief Supt Strachan did not say if the route being targeted was a cross-border route with the US. |
However, the Globe and Mail, citing sources, said it involved a Toronto-New York City train, and New York Republican Representative Peter King said the attack was intended "to cause significant loss of human life including New Yorkers". | However, the Globe and Mail, citing sources, said it involved a Toronto-New York City train, and New York Republican Representative Peter King said the attack was intended "to cause significant loss of human life including New Yorkers". |
VIA Rail, which operates passenger rail services across Canada, said that "at no time" were passengers or members of the public in imminent danger. | VIA Rail, which operates passenger rail services across Canada, said that "at no time" were passengers or members of the public in imminent danger. |
Canadian Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said the arrests showed that terrorism continued to be a real threat to Canada. | 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. | "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. |
'Fled to Iran' | 'Fled to Iran' |
Analysts say Iran's links with al-Qaeda are shadowy and complex. | Analysts say Iran's links with al-Qaeda are shadowy and complex. |
Some of the group's senior figures - including Osama Bin Laden's son, Saad Bin Laden, and former security chief Saif al-Adel - are said to have fled to Iran after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. | Some of the group's senior figures - including Osama Bin Laden's son, Saad Bin Laden, and former security chief Saif al-Adel - are said to have fled to Iran after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. |
They were allegedly held under house arrest by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard, although Tehran never acknowledged their presence. | They were allegedly held under house arrest by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard, although Tehran never acknowledged their presence. |
According to the US, Saif al-Adel's father-in-law, Mustafa Hamid, is the link between al-Qaeda and the Iranian government. | According to the US, Saif al-Adel's father-in-law, Mustafa Hamid, is the link between al-Qaeda and the Iranian government. |
After the fall of the Taliban, he is said to have negotiated the safe relocation of several senior al-Qaeda members and their families to Iran. In mid-2003, he was arrested by the Iranian authorities. | After the fall of the Taliban, he is said to have negotiated the safe relocation of several senior al-Qaeda members and their families to Iran. In mid-2003, he was arrested by the Iranian authorities. |