• Military
• WMD
• Intelligence

• Security Menu                     

• Systems
• Industry
• Operations
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Space

Toronto Terror Suspects in Court

By Barry Brown
Toronto
06 June 2006

Heavy security was in place as 15 of the 17 suspects in a plot to bomb Canada's parliament and murder Prime Minister Steven Harper were brought to court on Tuesday.

Dramatic allegations of plots to bomb Canada's parliament and behead its prime minister were leveled against a group of alleged terrorists when they made their appearance in a Canadian courtroom Tuesday.

Security was heavy as 15 of the 17 suspects arrested in a police raid Friday were brought to a Brampton, Ontario courtroom where they faced a number of terror-related charges. Prosecutors accuse the men of attempting to buy three tons of a chemicals used to make explosives and blow up Canadian landmarks, storm parliament, take politicians hostage and demand Canadian forces leave Afghanistan.

According to prosecutors, if the demands were not me, the plotters were determined to execute the politicians. One of the suspects, Steven Chand, 25, boasted he would kill Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper.

Chand's lawyer, Gary Batasar, told reporters his client personally wanted to behead the Prime Minister of Canada.

Despite the surprising admission, Batasar accused Canadian and American politicians and the media of stirring up a climate of fear.

Defense lawyers say they were not allowed to meet privately with their clients, all of whom are in isolation and under 24-hour surveillance. Several lawyers said unless these conditions change, they will challenge this form of detention in court next week.

News of the arrests and plots have shaken Canadians and led to some attacks on Muslim places of worship.

Tariq Abdelhaleen, father of one of the accused, told reporters his biggest concern was the behavior of the media. He said the media have already found his son guilty.

"We feel threatened by the media and all this cameras and … uncalled for," he said.

Police officials say their investigation into the alleged bomb plots is ongoing and more arrests are expected.