The first image has emerged of one of the Canadian terror suspects who plotted to derail a New York-bound train as it crossed near the Niagara Falls.
Chiheb Esseghaier, 35, a Ph.D. student studying in Montreal, was seen being led off of a plane in handcuffs after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police flew him to Toronto to appear in court today. His alleged co-conspirator Raed Jaser, 30, was arrested in Toronto on Monday.
Canadian security authorities say the men were operating with the support and guidance of 'al-Qaeda elements in Iran.' Police have called it the first al-Qaeda-planned terrorist plot in Canada.
Neither man is a Canadian citizen, though both are in the country legally. Essaghaier is a graduate student studying material sciences at the Institute National de la Recherche Scientifique. He is from Tunisia. Jaser is reportedly a Palestinian from the United Arab Emirates.
It was revealed late Monday that a prominent imam in the Toronto Muslim community tipped off authorities about the plot.
Officials reportedly watched the men for several months and say the plot never got past the planning stages. Canadian counter-terrorism investigators say the public was never in danger, the the men would have carried out the attack if they had not been stopped.
The alleged plot is not believed to have any link with last week's Boston Marathon bombings. However, the CBC reports the American attacks spurred Canadian authorities to make arrests on Monday, fearing the suspects would move up the timeline of their plot.
Police were seen raiding Jaser's house in northern Toronto on Monday, carrying away material that could be used as evidence in the suspects' prosecution.
The two men allegedly planned to derail an Amtrak or Canadian Via train as it crossed over the Whirpool Rapids Bridge from Canada into the United States, according to reports.
The 115-year-old arch bridge spans the Niagara River 225 feet above the water.
'The plan was to take out a train with passengers on board and the crossing trestle,' a police source told the Toronto Sun. 'It was meant to be spectacular and there would have been a lot of carnage.'
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service worked with FBI agents and the Department of Homeland Security in taking down the plot.
The men allegedly watched trains and rail yards across the greater Toronto area to prepare for their assault.
'Today's arrests demonstrate that terrorism continues to be a real threat to Canada,' Public Safety Minister Vic Toews told reporters in Ottawa.
'Canada will not tolerate terrorist activity and we will not be used as a safe haven for terrorists or those who support terrorist activities.'
Authorities credited Toronto's Muslim community with assisting in the arrests. In a meeting the Muslim leaders, police revealed that a prominent imam had come forward to tip off the security services that at least one of the suspects may have been plotting an attack.
Yusuf Badat, director of religious affairs for the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, told CBC that before Monday's press conference, Mounties met with Toronto Muslim leaders.
'Not too many details were shared. They did say a prominent community leader has come forward,' he said.
Chiheb Esseghaier, 35, a Ph.D. student studying in Montreal, was seen being led off of a plane in handcuffs after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police flew him to Toronto to appear in court today. His alleged co-conspirator Raed Jaser, 30, was arrested in Toronto on Monday.
Canadian security authorities say the men were operating with the support and guidance of 'al-Qaeda elements in Iran.' Police have called it the first al-Qaeda-planned terrorist plot in Canada.
Neither man is a Canadian citizen, though both are in the country legally. Essaghaier is a graduate student studying material sciences at the Institute National de la Recherche Scientifique. He is from Tunisia. Jaser is reportedly a Palestinian from the United Arab Emirates.
It was revealed late Monday that a prominent imam in the Toronto Muslim community tipped off authorities about the plot.
Officials reportedly watched the men for several months and say the plot never got past the planning stages. Canadian counter-terrorism investigators say the public was never in danger, the the men would have carried out the attack if they had not been stopped.
The alleged plot is not believed to have any link with last week's Boston Marathon bombings. However, the CBC reports the American attacks spurred Canadian authorities to make arrests on Monday, fearing the suspects would move up the timeline of their plot.
Police were seen raiding Jaser's house in northern Toronto on Monday, carrying away material that could be used as evidence in the suspects' prosecution.
The two men allegedly planned to derail an Amtrak or Canadian Via train as it crossed over the Whirpool Rapids Bridge from Canada into the United States, according to reports.
The 115-year-old arch bridge spans the Niagara River 225 feet above the water.
'The plan was to take out a train with passengers on board and the crossing trestle,' a police source told the Toronto Sun. 'It was meant to be spectacular and there would have been a lot of carnage.'
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service worked with FBI agents and the Department of Homeland Security in taking down the plot.
The men allegedly watched trains and rail yards across the greater Toronto area to prepare for their assault.
'Today's arrests demonstrate that terrorism continues to be a real threat to Canada,' Public Safety Minister Vic Toews told reporters in Ottawa.
'Canada will not tolerate terrorist activity and we will not be used as a safe haven for terrorists or those who support terrorist activities.'
Authorities credited Toronto's Muslim community with assisting in the arrests. In a meeting the Muslim leaders, police revealed that a prominent imam had come forward to tip off the security services that at least one of the suspects may have been plotting an attack.
Yusuf Badat, director of religious affairs for the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, told CBC that before Monday's press conference, Mounties met with Toronto Muslim leaders.
'Not too many details were shared. They did say a prominent community leader has come forward,' he said.
Source: DailyMail
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