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A police van carrying some of the 1suspects arrives at a heavily guarded courthouse in Brampton, Ontario. (Reuters)
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TORONTO – Canadian Muslims have expressed relief that security forces have averted potential terrorist attacks in the province of Ontario.
"Canada is our home and we are deeply concerned about the safety of our country," Karl Nickner, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations CANADA (CAIR-CAN), said in a statement obtained by IslamOnline.net.
The Canadian Muslim advocacy organization applauded efforts by security forces to combat terrorism and other criminal activities.
"As Canadian Muslims, we unequivocally condemn terrorism in all of its forms," added Nickner.
On Friday, June 2, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and partners of the country’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) arrested 17 individuals on terror charges.
"This group took steps to acquire three tones of ammonium nitrate and other components necessary to create explosive devices," RCMP Assistant Commissioner Mike McDonell told a news conference held on Saturday, June 3.
"To put this in context, the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people took one tone of ammonium nitrate."
The group comprised twelve adults, ranging in age from 19 to 43, and five teenagers.
Of the adults, six are from Mississauga, just outside Toronto, four are from Toronto itself and two are from Kingston in the eastern part of the province. Most are Canadian citizens or residents.
"They represent the broad strata of our society," McDonell said. "Some are students, some are employed, some are unemployed."
At the news conference security officials displayed bomb-making materials, including a red cell phone wired to what appeared to be an explosives detonator inside a black toolbox.
Also shown were a computer hard drive, camouflage uniforms, flashlights and walkie-talkies.
The suspects have been charged with participating in a terrorist group's activities; training and recruitment for the group; firearms and explosives offences; and contributing money or property for terrorist purposes.
Canada has been named by Al-Qaeda leaders on several occasions as one of six Western countries which could face their wrath, and Canadian intelligence officials have repeatedly warned that an attack in Canada was inevitable.
Fair Trial
While urging Canadian Muslims to cooperate with security agencies to combat any terrorist or other criminal activities, CAIR-CAN also asked that the accused be presumed innocent until they have been duly tried.
"We stand behind our security forces and the Canadian government in their desire to protect Canada," said Nickner.
"We also have confidence that our justice system will accord these individuals transparency, due process and the presumption of innocence," he added.
Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) said the operation should not be used to target any specific community.
"It is important to note that this operation in no way reflects negatively on any specific community or ethno-cultural group in Canada," said Luc Portelance, assistant director of CSIS.
"Terrorism is a dangerous ideology and a global phenomenon. As yesterday's arrests confirm, Canada is not immune from this ideology."
The number of Canadian Muslims has increased dramatically over the last decade, according to a national census.
Canadian Muslims make 1.9% of Canada's some 32.8 million people, according to the CIA online world facts book.
Islam has become the number one non-Christian faith in Canada.
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