Monday, June 05, 2006

Toronto-born Muslim terrorists face big time charges

Six of 17 suspects arrested over the weekend in connection with an alleged plot to bomb Ontario targets have been charged with planning to cause a deadly explosion. The charges, released Monday morning, reveal that Fahim Ahmad, Zakaria Amara, Asad Ansari, Shareef Abdelhaleem, Qayyum Abdul Jamal and Saad Khalid have been accused of the most serious charges in the alleged plot. If convicted, they face sentences of life in prison.
All of the suspects have been charged with offences under the Anti-terrorism Act, which was passed by Parliament months after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S. Twelve of the men have been charged with knowingly participating, directly or indirectly, in the activity of a terrorist group. Those charges relate to activities in Mississauga, Ont., Toronto and the Township of Ramara, which is located about 150 kilometres north of Toronto.
Three of the suspects have been charged with importing firearms and prohibited ammunition, and supplying prohibited weapons. Ten of the men are charged with engaging in terrorism-related training. Residents in Ramara reported hearing gunshots from an area where men were seen dressed in camouflage gear. All 17 of the accused will appear in court Tuesday for a bail hearing.

Focus on Qayyum Abdul Jamal
Jamal, 43, is a member of the Al-Rhman Islamic Centre in Mississauga who reportedly has made fiery speeches and holds extreme views about Islam. He is believed to have been a mentor for the young people who were arrested in the investigation. Tarek Fatah, a spokesman for the Muslim Canadian Congress, said Jamal was part of a mosque that originally belonged to a group of moderate Muslims but "was taken over." Imam Qamrul Khanson told the Associated Press the language of Jamal's Friday night prayers had a more strident tone than other prayer leaders', but there was never any talk of terrorism or violence.

According to preliminary reports - larger investigation into this terror cell, had already spread through seven different nations, and more arrests are coming - Boo-Hoo-Hoo liberals - let's hear it for "religion of peace"