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Canada train 'al-Qaeda plot' suspects challenge case | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Two suspects in an alleged Al Qaeda-backed plot to derail a Canadian passenger train have challenged the case against them. | |
In a Montreal court, Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, said the case against him was based only on "appearances". | In a Montreal court, Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, said the case against him was based only on "appearances". |
A lawyer for Raed Jaser, 35, said he would "defend himself vigorously", outside his hearing in Toronto. | |
Officials said the alleged plot had support from al-Qaeda in Iran, although there was no sign of state sponsorship. | Officials said the alleged plot had support from al-Qaeda in Iran, although there was no sign of state sponsorship. |
Canadian authorities said the two suspects were arrested in Montreal and Toronto on Monday. | Canadian authorities said the two suspects were arrested in Montreal and Toronto on Monday. |
Mr Jaser is understood to be a United Arab Emirates national of Palestinian origin, though his lawyer points out he is a permanent Canadian resident who has lived there 20 years. | |
Mr Esseghaier is thought to be of Tunisian origin. | |
'Imam's tip-off' | 'Imam's tip-off' |
The charges against the pair include conspiring to interfere with transport facilities on behalf of a terrorist organisation and conspiring to commit murder. | |
Neither suspect entered a plea in Tuesday's hearings. | |
But Mr Esseghaier said the charges against him were unfair. | |
"The conclusions were made based on acts and words which are only appearances," he said in French after receiving permission to speak. | "The conclusions were made based on acts and words which are only appearances," he said in French after receiving permission to speak. |
He declined representation by a court-appointed lawyer. | He declined representation by a court-appointed lawyer. |
Family members of Mr Jaser attended his hearing, where the court banned the publication of evidence and testimony in the case. | Family members of Mr Jaser attended his hearing, where the court banned the publication of evidence and testimony in the case. |
His father, Mohammed Jaser, told reporters outside court: "I don't know nothing. Let the police do their job." | His father, Mohammed Jaser, told reporters outside court: "I don't know nothing. Let the police do their job." |
The accused face charges of conspiracy to carry out an attack and kill people in association with a terrorist group. | The accused face charges of conspiracy to carry out an attack and kill people in association with a terrorist group. |
Mr Jaser's lawyer Mr Norris questioned the timing of the arrests, which came as the Canadian parliament debates an anti-terrorism bill that would reintroduce "preventative detention" and investigative hearings. | |
"I don't know what their purposes were but their timing was notable to say the least," Mr Norris was quoted by the Globe and Mail newspaper as saying. | "I don't know what their purposes were but their timing was notable to say the least," Mr Norris was quoted by the Globe and Mail newspaper as saying. |
Mr Esseghaier was studying for a doctorate at National Institute for Scientific Research near Montreal, while Mr Jaser reportedly worked as a customer service agent at a removal firm. | Mr Esseghaier was studying for a doctorate at National Institute for Scientific Research near Montreal, while Mr Jaser reportedly worked as a customer service agent at a removal firm. |
Canadian media have reported the investigation was launched after a tip-off by a concerned imam in the Toronto Muslim community. | Canadian media have reported the investigation was launched after a tip-off by a concerned imam in the Toronto Muslim community. |
The imam was worried that young people in the city were being corrupted by an extremist. | The imam was worried that young people in the city were being corrupted by an extremist. |
Authorities say the two accused had planned to derail a passenger train in the Greater Toronto area. | Authorities say the two accused had planned to derail a passenger train in the Greater Toronto area. |
The alleged attack was "definitely in the planning stage but not imminent", Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Chief Superintendent Jennifer Strachan said on Monday. | The alleged attack was "definitely in the planning stage but not imminent", Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Chief Superintendent Jennifer Strachan said on Monday. |
The Globe and Mail newspaper reported a Toronto-New York City train was to be the target. | The Globe and Mail newspaper reported a Toronto-New York City train was to be the target. |
But VIA Rail, which operates passenger rail services across Canada and carries nearly four million passengers annually, said the public was never in danger. | But VIA Rail, which operates passenger rail services across Canada and carries nearly four million passengers annually, said the public was never in danger. |
The RCMP said the investigation was a collaborative effort with FBI agents from the US. | The RCMP said the investigation was a collaborative effort with FBI agents from the US. |
Iran has denied any links with the two suspects. | Iran has denied any links with the two suspects. |
'Hilarious' | 'Hilarious' |
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said it was "ridiculous" to suggest any connection between al-Qaeda and Tehran. | Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said it was "ridiculous" to suggest any connection between al-Qaeda and Tehran. |
"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. |
Al-Qaeda - a militant Salafist Islamic movement - preaches a radical anti-Shia ideology that is seen as placing it firmly at odds with Shia Iran. | Al-Qaeda - a militant Salafist Islamic movement - preaches a radical anti-Shia ideology that is seen as placing it firmly at odds with Shia Iran. |
A US justice department official said there was no connection between the alleged Canada plot and last week's Boston Marathon bombings. | A US justice department official said there was no connection between the alleged Canada plot and last week's Boston Marathon bombings. |
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. |