Content deleted Content added
→Charges: chand never assumed the alias shakur, that was false information released by police |
m →Orillia training camp: HTTP to HTTPS for The Christian Science Monitor |
||
| (661 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{Short description|Plot by Islamic extremists}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
|title=2006 Ontario terrorism case
|___location= [[Ottawa]] and [[Toronto]]
|date=June 2, 2006 – Planned but never executed
|target=Various places in Canada and [[Southern Ontario]], including [[Parliament Hill]], the [[Prime Minister of Canada]], [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service|CSIS Headquarters]], and the [[Toronto Stock Exchange]].
|type=Conspiracy
|fatalities=0
|injuries= 0
|numparts= 18 (11 convicted)
}}
The '''2006 Ontario terrorism case''' was the plotting of a series of attacks against targets in [[Southern Ontario]], Canada, and the June 2, 2006 [[counter-terrorism]] raids in and around the [[Greater Toronto Area]] that resulted in the arrest of 14 adults and 4 youths (the "'''Toronto 18'''").<ref name=Cbc2013-09-25/>
These individuals have been characterized as having been inspired by [[al-Qaeda]].<ref name=Dawn2006-06-04/><ref name=Ynn2006-06-03/>
They were accused of planning to detonate truck bombs, to open fire in a crowded area, and to storm the [[Canadian Broadcasting Centre]], the [[Parliament of Canada]] building, the [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]] (CSIS) headquarters, and the parliamentary [[Peace Tower]] to take hostages and to behead the [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] and other leaders.
Following the jury trial in June 2010, a comprehensive presentation of the case and the evidence obtained from court exhibits previously restricted was given by Isabel Teotonio of the [[Toronto Star]]. It contained the details on guilty pleas, convictions, and stayed/dismissed charges. The Ontario Court of Appeal released their decision on December 17, 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/908672--appeal-court-hikes-sentences-for-terror-convictions |work=Toronto Star |first=Tracey |last=Tyler |title=Appeal court hikes sentences for terror convictions |date=December 17, 2010| access-date= December 17, 2010}}</ref>
Seven adults pleaded guilty, including the two ringleaders—[[Fahim Ahmad]], who was sentenced to 16 years, and [[Zakaria Amara]], who received a life sentence and initially had his [[Canadian citizenship]] revoked but later restored following the passage of [[Bill C-6]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/09/26/canada-revokes-citizenship-of-toronto-18-terror-mastermind.html|title=Canada revokes citizenship of Toronto 18 terror mastermind - The Star|website=thestar.com|date=September 26, 2015 |access-date=April 15, 2018}}</ref><ref name="c-6">{{cite news|title=Immigration minister defends legislation that prevents convicted dual nationals from losing citizenship|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/immigration-minister-defends-legislation-to-prevents-convicted-dual-nationals-from-losing-citizenship|access-date=6 October 2017|agency=National Post|date=1 March 2017}}</ref> The remaining five received sentences ranging from seven to 20 years. A further three adults and one youth were convicted at trial; the youth was sentenced to 2.5 years while the adults received sentences of 6.5 years, ten years, and life imprisonment. Four adults and two youths were released after the charges against them were stayed and one youth had his charges dismissed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.thestar.com/static/toronto18/index.html|title=TORONTO 18 - thestar.com|website=www3.thestar.com|access-date=April 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006004104/http://www3.thestar.com/static/toronto18/index.html|archive-date=October 6, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Pre-arrest events==
===Infiltration===
On November 27, 2005, [[Mubin Shaikh]] (a police agent) met with members of the terrorist group at an information meeting at a banquet hall regarding the use of [[security certificates]] in Canada, and began his infiltration of the group.<ref name="singh">Singh, Gurmukh. The Indian News, [http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/bomb-laden-trucks-planned-in-toronto-terror-plot_10058809.html Bomb-laden trucks planned in Toronto terror plot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524093208/http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/bomb-laden-trucks-planned-in-toronto-terror-plot_10058809.html |date=May 24, 2011 }}, June 11, 2008</ref> He was told that they had planned a training camp near [[Orillia]]. They asked Shaikh if he would join them and teach them how to use a gun, since he had mentioned his military and martial arts training, and shown them his [[Possession and Acquisition Licence]].<ref name="singh"/><ref name="pbs">[[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]], [[Frontline (U.S. TV series)|Frontline]], [https://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/about/episodes/602_transcript.html Canada: The Cell Next Door], January 30, 2007</ref>
===Orillia training camp===
The trip by the group, ages 15–42, was to a wooded area near [[Orillia, Ontario]], from December 18–31, 2005.<ref name="pbs"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/article/350909 |title=Alleged Toronto terror plot detailed in court |work=Toronto Star |date= March 26, 2008 |access-date=March 25, 2010 |first=Isabel |last=Teotonio}}</ref> It was monitored by more than 200 police officers.<ref name="quentin"/><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/507480 |title=Convicted youth excelled at training camp |work= Toronto Star |date=September 27, 2008 |access-date=March 25, 2010 |first=Isabel |last=Teotonio}}</ref>
Authorities say that "the internet played a large role in the suspects' planning".<ref name="monitor">{{cite news |author=Dube, Rebecca Cook |work=The Christian Science Monitor |___location =Boston |url= https://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0606/p01s02-woam.html |title= Canada faces jihad generation |date=June 6, 2006}}</ref> Six months prior to the planned attack, the group watched a video over the internet of [[Anwar al Awlaki]] (the imam who was connected to three of the 9/11 hijackers) preaching about the need for [[jihad]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/711964--the-powerful-online-voice-of-jihad |title=The powerful online voice of jihad |work=Toronto Star |date= October 18, 2009 |access-date=March 25, 2010 |first=Michelle |last=Shephard |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100424220634/http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/711964--the-powerful-online-voice-of-jihad |archive-date= April 24, 2010 |url-status= live}}</ref>
The ringleader gave sermons comparing the Canadian countryside to [[Chechnya]], and calling for victory over "Rome", which prosecutors alleged was a reference to Canada.<ref name="post">{{cite news |author=Brean, Joseph |work=[[National Post]] |___location =Toronto |url= https://nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=577856 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20080611101408/http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=577856 |url-status= dead |archive-date= June 11, 2008 |title=We weren't out there picking daisies |date=June 10, 2008 }}</ref> "Whether we get arrested, killed, or tortured, our mission is greater than just individuals," he said.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/420595 |title=Terrorist threat to Canada is real |work= The Record |date=September 27, 2008 |___location =Kitchener, Ont. |access-date=March 25, 2010}}</ref> He also said: "We're not officially al-Qaida but we share their principles and methods" around a campfire.<ref name="mach">{{cite news|work=[[National Post]] |___location=Toronto |url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=fb8e207e-2c1f-46e6-bfcb-d6be4e6c0f5f |date=September 25, 2008 |title=Ontario man guilty of taking part in terror plot |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026125722/http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=fb8e207e-2c1f-46e6-bfcb-d6be4e6c0f5f |archive-date=October 26, 2013 }}</ref>
In 2008, a video made at the camp documenting their actions was made public, after the media obtained them through the British trial of [[Aabid Khan]] (who was convicted of being a terrorist propagandist), thus working around the [[publication ban]] that forbade them from showing evidence from the Canadian trials. The home video showed masked men in winter camouflage marching through the snow in an Ontario forest, shouting "[[Allahu Akbar]]"—or "God is Great"—while waving a black flag.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080918/released_video_080918?s_name=&no_ads= |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220703080732/https://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080918/released_video_080918?s_name=&no_ads= |url-status= dead |archive-date= July 3, 2022 |title=Video of alleged Toronto terror group released |work=CTV News |date=September 18, 2008 |access-date=March 25, 2010}}</ref> The video was obtained by the [[NEFA Foundation]] (Nine-Eleven Finding Answers Foundation).<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.chroniclejournal.com/stories_national.php?id=135191 |title=Video evidence in trial of alleged Toronto terrorist plot surfaces on U.S. website |work=The Chronicle Journal |___location =Thunder Bay, Ont. |date=September 18, 2008 |access-date=March 25, 2010}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
The video also showed the men daring each other to jump over campfires, and driving in a [[Canadian Tire]] parking lot late at night, alternatively described as "evasive driving maneuvers" or simply having fun [[doughnut (driving)|driving doughnuts]] on the slippery ice. The film had been dubbed with [[Nasheed]] music,<ref>{{cite news|work=[[National Post]] |___location=Toronto |url=http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2008/09/18/video-of-alleged-ont-terror-group-released.aspx |title=Video of alleged Ont. terror group released |date=September 18, 2008 }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/lawyer-of-terror-suspect-expresses-concern-over-video-1.695241 |title= Lawyer of terror suspect expresses concern over video |work=CBC News |___location=Toronto |date=September 19, 2008 |access-date=March 25, 2010}}</ref> and the informant admitted that he had "choreographed" some of the scenes, arranging the campers to perform for the camera in a militant fashion upon the instruction of Zakaria Amara who did the filming.<ref name="sinister"/> The youths frequented the local coffee shop, still dressed in their fatigues.<ref name="cbc"/>
Shaikh, the police agent, was accused by the defence of having played a "key role" in setting up and running the trip,<ref>{{cite news|last=Freeze |first=Colin |newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]] |___location=Toronto |url=http://www.rcmpwatch.com/rcmp-agent-concedes-key-role-in-set-up-running-of-terrorist-training-camp/ |title=RCMP agent concedes key role in set-up, running of terrorist training camp |date=January 31, 2009 |access-date=March 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725162522/http://www.rcmpwatch.com/rcmp-agent-concedes-key-role-in-set-up-running-of-terrorist-training-camp/ |archive-date=July 25, 2011 }}</ref> purchasing many of the supplies used,<ref name="quentin"/> and being the "military trainer" at the camp.<ref name="pbs"/><ref name="cbc">{{cite news |url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/informant-says-militant-training-camp-was-potty-training-exercise-1.764918?ref=rss |title= Informant says militant training camp was 'potty training' exercise |date= June 11, 2008 |work=CBC}}</ref><ref name="wark"/> Shaikh gave firearms lessons to the accused, but at their request purchased a rifle and ammunition for the group.<ref name="sinister"/> Shaikh showed the "campers" how to fire an illegal [[9 mm]] [[pistol|handgun]] and [[ammunition]] which belonged to Faheem Ahmad.<ref name="quentin">{{cite news |author=Teotino, Isabel |newspaper=Toronto Star |title= Terror camp police mole on his own, court told |date= February 6, 2009}}</ref><ref name="wark">{{cite news|author=Wark, Wesley |newspaper=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=d61fb954-ff43-4910-9f43-48e8fd6316c5 |title=The beginning of terrorism |date=August 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105042450/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=d61fb954-ff43-4910-9f43-48e8fd6316c5 |archive-date=November 5, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="star">{{cite news |newspaper= Toronto Star |url= https://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/356924 |title= Suspect told 'terrorist camp' was camping trip |date=March 26, 2008}}</ref> He also gave "exhortational [[sermon]]s on Jihad",<ref>{{cite news|author=Leong, Melissa |work=[[National Post]] |___location=Toronto |url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html?id=a1eda3d1-e0f5-46e0-8761-ef951c0e3a92 |title=Ontario terror case far from over |date=June 2, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108100022/http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html?id=a1eda3d1-e0f5-46e0-8761-ef951c0e3a92 |archive-date=November 8, 2012 }}</ref> but described the camp itself as hapless.<ref name="cbc"/>
===Rockwood training camp===
Held over two days in May 2006 at the [[Rockwood Conservation Area]],<ref name="wark"/> the second camping trip, consisting of 10 people, came after members complained about fearing that police would arrest them for having known two Americans who had just been arrested.<ref name="girlscrapper">{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=569571 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080617195757/http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=569571 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 17, 2008 |title=Terrorism suspect feared he was 'sitting duck,' trial hears |work=National Post |___location=Canada |date=June 7, 2008 |access-date=March 25, 2010}}</ref>
[[Young offenders in 2006 Toronto terrorism case|A youth, who cannot be named]], appeared in videos with the rest of the group, meant to mimic Jihadist beheading videos coming out of the [[Invasion of Iraq]], sitting in front of a flag, and flanked by two [[hunting knife|hunting knives]].<ref name="mach"/> During the filming, the leader kept trying to effect giggles from the adolescents, who were trying "to look tough" for the "mock" video.<ref name="mock">Walkom, Thomas. [[Toronto Star]], [https://www.thestar.com/Canada/Columnist/article/448780 Crown's linchpin shakes case], June 25, 2008</ref>
===Targets===
The group was preparing a large-scale terrorist attack in [[southern Ontario]]. They planned to detonate truck bombs in at least three locations, and open fire in a crowded area. They also made plans to storm various buildings such as the Canadian Broadcasting Centre and the Canadian [[Parliament Hill|Parliament]] building, and take hostages. Law enforcement authorities identified other targets, including the CSIS headquarters, the Parliamentary Buildings' Peace Tower, and power grids.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060605.wxterror05/BNStory/National/home |title=National |publisher=globeandmail.com |access-date=March 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007155056/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060605.wxterror05/BNStory/National/home |archive-date=October 7, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/article/440536 |title="Toronto targets picked, terror trial told", ''Toronto Star'', June 10, 2008, accessed November 20, 2009 |work=Toronto Star |date= June 10, 2008|access-date=March 25, 2010 | first=Isabel | last=Teotonio}}</ref>
According to one of the suspect's lawyers, they were also accused of planning to "behead the [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]]", [[Stephen Harper]], and other leaders.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/06/06/canada.terror/index.html |title=– Lawyer: Government says terror plans included beheading – Jun 7, 2006 |publisher=CNN |date=June 7, 2006 |access-date=March 25, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html?id=c8008ad3-54e2-4155-98d1-6687c5649db3&k=1929 |title=Terror suspects plotted two separate attacks |publisher=Canada.com |date=June 6, 2006 |access-date=March 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013040135/http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html?id=c8008ad3-54e2-4155-98d1-6687c5649db3&k=1929 |archive-date=October 13, 2012 }}</ref>
==Arrests, reaction, and court proceedings==
===Arrests===
The raids were carried out by a Canadian inter-agency task force, the [[Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams|Integrated National Security Enforcement Team]] (INSET), which coordinated the activities of the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] (RCMP), the [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service|CSIS]], the [[Ontario Provincial Police]] (OPP), and other police forces, as the operation was spread across several different jurisdictions in southern Ontario, in the area north of Toronto.
The police stated that one of the arrested men ordered three [[tonne|metric tonnes]] (6,600 [[pound (mass)|pounds]]) of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, a potentially powerful ingredient often used as quarry and mining [[explosives]]. This weight has widely been compared to the amount of ammonium nitrate used in the 1995 [[Oklahoma City bombing]] in the United States. The official account estimates the ammonium nitrate in the Oklahoma City bomb at 2,000 pounds, or about 0.9 metric tonnes. There was not any imminent danger to the public, as a harmless substance was substituted for the ordered ammonium nitrate and delivered to the men by INSET officers in a [[sting operation]].
The RCMP said that the CSIS had been monitoring the individuals since 2004, later joined by the RCMP.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060603/toronto_arrests_060603/20060604?hub=TorontoHome |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061011193050/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060603/toronto_arrests_060603/20060604?hub=TorontoHome |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2006 |title=RCMP arrests 17, foiling alleged Ont. bomb plot |publisher=CTV.ca |date=June 3, 2006 |access-date=March 25, 2010}}</ref> The suspects, all adherents to a radical form of Islam, were alleged by CSIS to have been inspired by al-Qaeda.<ref name=Dawn2006-06-04>{{cite web |url=http://www.dawn.com/2006/06/04/top10.htm |title=17 held in terror plot in Canada -DAWN – Top Stories; June 4, 2006 |publisher=Dawn.com |date=June 4, 2006 |access-date=March 25, 2010 |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927023808/http://dawn.com/news/195428/17-held-in-terror-plot-in-canada |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> A direct connection seems unlikely.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/04/world/americas/04toronto.html?ei=5087%0A&en=9a73d1adefdf1e34&ex=1149566400&pagewanted=all | work=The New York Times | title=17 Held in Plot to Bomb Sites in Ontario | first1=Ian | last1=Austen | first2=David | last2=Johnston | date=June 4, 2006 | access-date=April 22, 2010}}</ref>
The investigation started with intelligence officials monitoring [[Internet chat]] sites. The suspects were charged under the anti-terrorism legislation<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/cdnsecurity/|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=February 27, 2007|title=Anti-terrorism Act|access-date=Oct 21, 2009}}</ref> passed by [[Parliament of Canada|Canadian parliament]] in December 2001 in response to the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11 attacks]] in the US.
Two men, Yasim Abdi Mohamed and [[Ali Dirie]], were already serving a two-year prison sentence for trying to smuggle a pair of handguns across the [[Peace Bridge]] a year earlier, for "personal protection" for themselves since they had worked as designer clothing re-sellers in seedy neighborhoods. They had their charges upgraded to "importing weapons for terrorist purposes" after it was revealed that their third handgun had been meant to repay Ahmad who had used his credit card to pay for their rental car.<ref name="frisco"/><ref name="escape"/>
==Suspects of the Toronto 18==
* [[Fahim Ahmad]], 21, [[Toronto]], born in [[Afghan Canadians|Afghanistan and came to Canada]] at age 10; pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 16 years.<ref name=Ctv2006-06-05/> Denied parole on June 10, 2014. Denied statutory release on August 26, 2015. Sentence ended on January 24, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/05/26/leader-of-toronto-18-terror-group-denied-early-release.html|title=Leader of Toronto 18 terror group denied release - The Star|website=thestar.com|date=May 26, 2017 |access-date=April 15, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Zakaria Amara]], 20, [[Mississauga]], born in [[Jordanian Canadians|Jordan and came to Canada]] at age 12; pleaded guilty and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for 10 years.<ref name=Ctv2006-06-05/> Denied parole on June 2, 2016. Granted day parole in November 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/toronto-18-boss-works-in-watch-shop-on-day-parole|title=Former terrorist boss sells watches in Ontario while on parole | National Post}}</ref>
* [[Shareef Abdelhaleem]], 30, Mississauga, born in [[Egyptian Canadians|Egypt and came to Canada]] at age 10; convicted at trial and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for 10 years.<ref name=Ctv2006-06-05/> Granted day parole in January 2021. Granted full parole in June 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/toronto-18-terrorist-granted-full-parole|title=Toronto 18 terrorist who planned to bomb Ontario granted full parole | National Post}}</ref>
* [[Saad Khalid]], 19, Mississauga, born in [[Saudi Arabia]] of [[Pakistanis|Pakistani descent]] and came to Canada at age 9; pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years.<ref name=Ctv2006-06-05/> Denied parole on March 4, 2016. Statutory release was May 4, 2018.<ref name="snrl">{{cite web |last=Shephard |first=Michelle |date=May 29, 2016 |title=What happened to the Toronto 18 plotters? |url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/toronto-star/20160529/282295319449966 |access-date=April 15, 2018 |via=PressReader}}</ref>
* Saad Gaya, 18, Mississauga, born in Canada of Pakistani descent; pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 years.<ref name=Ctv2006-06-05/> Granted day parole on December 30, 2015. Statutory release was in January 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/convicted-toronto-18-member-saad-gaya-gets-day-parole-extension-1.3741810|title=Convicted 'Toronto 18' member Saad Gaya gets day parole extension - CBC News|website=cbc.ca|access-date=April 15, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Amin Durrani]], 19, Toronto, born in [[Pakistani Canadians|Pakistan and came to Canada]] at age 12; pleaded guilty on January 20, 2010 and was sentenced to 7.5 years and released after being credited with time served for nearly 3 years and 8 months of pre-trial custody.<ref name=Ctv2006-06-05/><ref name=snrl/>
* [[Jahmaal James]], 23, Toronto, born in Canada, family immigrated from the [[West Indies]]; pleaded guilty on February 26, 2010 and was sentenced to 7 years and 7 months and released after 1 day after being credited with 3 years and 9 months of pre-trial custody.<ref name=Ctv2006-06-05/><ref name=snrl/>
* [[Steven Vikash Chand|Steven Chand]], 25, Toronto, born in Canada, family immigrated from [[Fiji]], a recent convert to Islam and a former [[Canadian Forces|Canadian soldier]]; convicted at trial and was sentenced to 10 years.<ref name=Ctv2006-06-05/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metronews.ca/news_feature_detail.asp?id=16644 |title=Metro |publisher=Metronews.ca |access-date=March 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522144813/http://www.metronews.ca/news_feature_detail.asp?id=16644 |archive-date=May 22, 2011 }}</ref> Released on July 6, 2011.<ref name=snrl/>
* [[Ali Dirie]], 22, Toronto, born in [[Somali Canadians|Somalia and came to Canada]] at age 7; pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 7 years. Released in October 2011 and left Canada in 2012 and reportedly died in 2013 fighting in the [[Syrian Civil War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/09/25/toronto_18_ali_mohamed_dirie_convicted_in_plot_dies_in_syria.html|title=Toronto 18: Ali Mohamed Dirie, convicted in plot, dies in Syria - The Star|website=thestar.com|date=September 25, 2013 |access-date=April 15, 2018}}</ref>
* Asad Ansari, 21, Mississauga, born in Pakistan and moved to Saudi Arabia at 7 months old and came to Canada at age 12; convicted at trial and was sentenced on October 4, 2010 to 6 years and 5 months and released after 1 day after being credited with 3 years and 3 months of pre-trial custody.<ref name=Ctv2006-06-05/><ref name=snrl/>
* [[Qayyum Abdul Jamal]], 43, Mississauga, born in Pakistan and came to Canada as an adult,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060606.TERRORYOUTH06/TPStory/ |title=globeandmail.com |publisher=globeandmail.com |access-date=March 25, 2010}}</ref> an active member of the mosque who frequently led prayers; released after charges against him were stayed.<ref name=Ctv2006-06-05/><ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/05/world/americas/05canada.html | work=The New York Times | title=Six of 17 Arrested in Canada's Antiterror Sweep Have Ties to Mosque Near Toronto | first=Anthony | last=Depalma | date=June 5, 2006 | access-date=April 22, 2010}}</ref>
* Yasim Abdi Mohamed, 24, Toronto, born in Somalia and came to Canada at age 5; released after the charges against him were stayed.<ref name=Ctv2006-06-05/>
* [[Ahmad Mustafa Ghany]], 21, Mississauga, born in Canada, family immigrated from [[Trinidad and Tobago]]; released after the charges against him were stayed.<ref name=Ctv2006-06-05/>
* [[Ibrahim Aboud]], 19, Mississauga, born in [[Iraqi Canadians|Iraq and came to Canada]] in his mid-teens; released after the charges against him were stayed.<ref name=Ctv2006-06-05/>
The identities of the four minors were legally protected by Canada's ''[[Youth Criminal Justice Act]]''. One was convicted at trial and sentenced to 2.5 years; the publication ban on his name was lifted in September 2009, and he was identified as Nishanthan Yogakrishnan, a convert to Islam from Hinduism.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto-18-key-events-in-the-case-1.715266 |title=Toronto 18: Key events in the case |publisher=cbc.ca |access-date=July 31, 2017}}</ref> The other 3 minors were released after the charges against them were dismissed or stayed.
Six of the 18 men arrested have ties to the [[Al Rahman Islamic Center]] near Toronto, a [[Sunni]] mosque.<ref name=autogenerated1 />
Another two of those arrested were already serving time in a [[Kingston, Ontario]], prison on weapons possession charges.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/05/world/americas/05canada.html?pagewanted=2 | work=The New York Times | title=Six of 17 Arrested in Canada's Antiterror Sweep Have Ties to Mosque Near Toronto | first=Anthony | last=Depalma | date=June 5, 2006 | access-date=April 22, 2010}}</ref> According to the U.S. [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) two other men, [[Syed Haris Ahmed|Syed Ahmed]] and Ehsanul Sadequee, who were arrested in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] in the United States on terrorism charges, are connected to the case as well.<!--<ref>{{cite news| url=http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?floc=ne-national-more&idq=/ff/story/0002%2F20060603%2F1530023024.htm&sc=rontz | work=CNN}}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>-->
John Thompson, president of the [[Mackenzie Institute]], a Toronto [[think tank]], summarized the young suspects stating "These are kids at a transition, between Islamic society and Western society. A lot of people will get militarized if they're unsure of their own identity. They're just young and stupid. If you're 17, bored, restless, you want to meet girls – hey, be a radical."<ref name="monitor"/> "The cops have a nickname for it – the jihad generation," says Thompson.
===Impact===
On the night following the arrests, the [[Rexdale]] mosque in Toronto was vandalized, as windows were smashed across the building as well as the cars in the parking lot.<ref name="buff">{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Vanessa |first2=Make |last2=Becker |work=[[Buffalo News]] |url=http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060605/1066828.asp |title=A portrait of terrorist suspects |date=June 5, 2006 |access-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-date=December 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121206000816/http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060605/1066828.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> Similar vandalism was reported at another mosque in Toronto.<ref name="sweep">{{cite news |last=DePalma |first=Antony |date=2006-06-05 |title=Six of 17 arrested in Canada's anti-terror sweep have ties to mosque near Toronto |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/05/world/americas/05canada.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116061930/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/05/world/americas/05canada.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 |archive-date=2016-01-16}}</ref>
The arrests sparked several comments by politicians in the US regarding the security of Canada, including those of US [[Congress of the United States|Congressman]] [[Peter T. King|Peter King]], who on June{{nbs}}6 was reported to have said that there is allegedly "a large [[al-Qaeda]] presence in Canada [...] because of their very liberal immigration laws [and] because of how political asylum is granted so easily".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060605.terror-wash05/BNStory/International/home |title=World |publisher=globeandmail.com |access-date=March 25, 2010}}</ref>
[[John Hostettler]], American chairman of the [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary]] subcommittee on Border Security said the arrest illustrated that "South Toronto" served as an "enclave for radical discussion", where people held "a militant understanding of Islam". His comments were widely ridiculed by Canadians who pointed out that there is no area of Toronto known as "South Toronto" (the downtown core of the city sits on the north shore of [[Lake Ontario]], placing "South Toronto" in the water), and that none of the suspects were even from the downtown core. Both Canada's [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] government and the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] opposition condemned the "completely uninformed and ignorant remarks".<ref>Ljunggren, David. [[Reuters]], "Canada slams "ignorant" US comments on security", June 9, 2006</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060609.wxborder09/BNStory/National/home |title=National |publisher=globeandmail.com |access-date=March 25, 2010 |archive-date=June 16, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616084552/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060609.wxborder09/BNStory/National/home |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Reporting controversy===
The initial reports of this incident caused some controversy when a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, Mike McDonell, described the arrested people as representing a "broad strata" of Canadian society,<ref name=ties>{{cite news |author1=Bhattacharya, Surya |author2= Gulmhusein, Nasreen |author3= Aly, Heba |author3-link=Heba Aly (journalist) |title=The ties that bind 17 suspects? |work=Toronto Star |date=June 4, 2006}}</ref> and the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' claimed that it was "difficult to find a common denominator" among them,<ref name=ties/> even though all were radical Muslims and many attended the same mosque. Some in the media, such as [[Andrew C. McCarthy]] in ''[[National Review]]'', have described this as a tendency of the police and media to whitewash a role of militant Islam in contemporary terrorism.<ref>{{cite news|author=McCarthy, Andrew C. |url=http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MmRjMThlNDA0YmNmZWU1NzM4MGQ0NmVkOTUwMzExZTA= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616004246/http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MmRjMThlNDA0YmNmZWU1NzM4MGQ0NmVkOTUwMzExZTA%3D |archive-date=June 16, 2006 |title=The Elephant in the Room |work=National Review Online |___location=New York |date=June 5, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The media coverage of the arrests was accused of bringing to light underlying racism in Canadian media, after a number of incidents including ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' newspaper's use of the term "brown-skinned young men" in describing the men who had rented a [[Self storage|storage unit]].<ref name="fisk">{{cite news |author-link=Robert Fisk |author= Fisk, Robert |newspaper=The Independent |___location =London |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-how-racism-has-invaded-canada-481745.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081211115154/http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-how-racism-has-invaded-canada-481745.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= December 11, 2008 |title=How racism has invaded Canada |date=June 10, 2006}}</ref>
[[Imam]] [[Aly Hindy]], who knew nine of the accused youths personally, said he had doubted any of them "did anything wrong", adding that "If some of them are guilty, I don't think it's terrorism. It may be criminal, but it's not terrorism."<ref name="buff"/>
===Court proceedings===
A [[preliminary hearing]] started June 4, 2007, for the remaining 14 terrorism suspects. It was halted by the [[Crown Attorney]] on September 24, 2007, so the case could proceed directly to trial. The move (called a "preferred indictment", or a "[[direct indictment]]") meant defense counsel could not hear the balance of the testimony of the Crown's key witness, police informant Mubin Shaikh, who was in the middle of testifying.<ref name="Stardirect">{{cite news
| last =Teotonio
| first =Isabel
| title = Homegrown terror case goes to trial
|work=Toronto Star
| date = September 24, 2007
| url =https://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/260004
| access-date =September 24, 2007 }}</ref>
At the opening trial, against the sole remaining youth, prosecutors alleged that comments that referred to "shotgun on Blondie" were actually a pretext to sexually assault non-Muslims.<ref>{{cite news |author=Walkom, Thomas |newspaper=Toronto Star |url= https://www.thestar.com/comment/article/640862 |title= Canada's terrorist shoplifter |date=May 27, 2009}}</ref>
Syed Haris Ahmed was convicted in June 2009 of conspiring to support terrorism, and Ehsanul Islam Sadequee was convicted of plotting to support "violent jihad" in August 2009. The two men were alleged to have met with members of the Toronto 18 in Canada in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bluestein |first=Greg |agency=Associated Press |url= https://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/680508 |title=Man tied to 'Toronto 18' guilty in U.S. terror case |work=Toronto Star |date=August 13, 2009 |access-date=August 26, 2015}}</ref>
In September 2008 Nishanthan Yogakrishnan, who was a minor when charged, was convicted of knowingly participating in the plot.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.thestar.com/GTA/Crime/article/620219 |title=Youth terror convict to be sentenced as adultCrown seeks three-year term plus probation, but court must rule on credit for time served |work=Toronto Star |date=April 17, 2009 |access-date=March 25, 2010 |first=Isabel |last=Teotonio}}</ref> In May 2009, he was sentenced to two and a half years, and received credit for time served.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.thestar.com/gta/crime/article/693523 |title=Publication ban lifted in Toronto 18 case |work=Toronto Star |date=September 10, 2009 |access-date=March 25, 2010 |first=Isabel |last=Teotonio}}</ref> Ontario Superior Court Judge John Sproat ruled there was "overwhelming" evidence that a terrorist conspiracy existed.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/20-year-old-convicted-in-toronto-terror-plot-1.741483 |title=20-year-old convicted in Toronto terror plot |work=CBC News |date=September 25, 2008 |access-date=August 25, 2015}}</ref> He was the first person to be found guilty under Canada's 2001 ''Anti-Terrorism Act'', passed following the September 11, 2001 attacks.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/638866 |title=Man in terror trial sentenced to 2.5 years |work=Toronto Star |date=May 22, 2009 |access-date=March 25, 2010 |first=Isabel |last=Teotonio}}</ref>
Saad Khalid pleaded guilty in May 2009 to aiding a plot to set off bombs at the [[Toronto Stock Exchange]], the [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service|CSIS]] Toronto headquarters, and a military base between Toronto and Ottawa.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Toole |first=Megan |url= https://calgaryherald.com/news/pleads+guilty+Toronto+terror+plot/1566527/story.html |title=Man pleads guilty in Toronto terror plot |newspaper= Calgary Herald |date=May 5, 2009 |access-date=March 25, 2010}}{{dead link|date=July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.kelowna.com/2009/09/03/toronto-18-member-to-be-sentenced-for-terror-plot/ |title=Toronto 18 member to be sentenced for terror plot |date=September 3, 2009 |access-date= November 17, 2009 |work=Kelowna.com |___location =Kelowna, BC}}{{dead link|date=March 2010}}</ref> He was sentenced to 14 years in prison.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://ca.reuters.com/article/idCATRE5826CP20090903 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111003000038/http://ca.reuters.com/article/idCATRE5826CP20090903 |url-status= dead |archive-date= October 3, 2011 |title=Toronto 18 man gets 14 years for planned attacks |work=Reuters |date=September 3, 2009 |access-date=March 25, 2010}}</ref>
In September 2009 Ali Mohamed Dirie admitted to being a member of a terrorist group. On a police wiretap, he called white people the "number 1 filthiest people on the face of the planet. They don't have Islam. They're the most filthiest people." He added: "In Islam there is no racism, we only hate kufar (non-Muslims)."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www2.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=38d02f2f-5cee-49d6-9acb-5712c51224da |title=Man admits to plotting attack |work=The Windsor Star |first=Stewart |last=Bell |agency=Canwest News Service |date=September 24, 2009 |access-date=April 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929091855/http://www2.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=38d02f2f-5cee-49d6-9acb-5712c51224da |archive-date=September 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The Crown and defence agreed on a seven-year sentence.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bell |first=Stewart |url= https://ottawacitizen.com/news/Somali+immigrant+admits+terror+role/2024806/story.html |title=Toronto terror participant hated non-Muslims, court told |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=September 23, 2009 |access-date=March 25, 2010}}{{dead link|date=July 2011}}</ref> In September 2013, it was reported Dirie had been killed fighting with rebels in the Syrian war. He had left Canada using someone else's passport.<ref>{{cite news|title=Toronto 18 terrorist reportedly killed in Syrian war
|publisher=The Globe and Mail|author=Colin Freeze|___location=Toronto|access-date=September 25, 2013|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto-18-terrorist-reportedly-killed-in-syrian-war/article14538124/}}</ref>
Also in September 2009, al-Qaeda supporter Aabid Hussein Khan was sentenced to 14 years for his role in the bomb plot.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://nationalpost.com/m/story.html?id=1960268&s=Home&p=3 |title=International links linger after 'Toronto 18' member imprisoned |work=National Post |___location =Toronto |date=September 3, 2009 |access-date=March 25, 2010}} {{dead link|date=July 2011}}</ref>
In October 2009, Zakaria Amara, described by prosecutors as the leader of the group, pleaded guilty to charges of participating in the activities of a terrorist group, bomb charges, and planning explosions likely to cause serious bodily harm or death.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCATRE59752C20091008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010214003/http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCATRE59752C20091008 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 10, 2009 |title=Alleged 'Toronto 18' leader pleads guilty |work=Reuters |date=October 8, 2009 |access-date=March 25, 2010}}</ref>
In May 2010, Fahim Ahmad, described as a leader of the group, reversed his plea mid-trial and pleaded guilty.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/807202--toronto-18-ringleader-pleads-guilty-in-terror-trial?bn=1 |author=Teotonio, Isabel |title=Toronto 18 ringleader pleads guilty in terror trial |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=May 10, 2010 |access-date= May 11, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100513013153/http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/807202--toronto-18-ringleader-pleads-guilty-in-terror-trial?bn=1| archive-date= May 13, 2010| url-status= live}}</ref>
====Asad Ansari====
{{Anchor|Asad Ansari }}Asad Ansari was 21 years old when arrested in June 2006, in Toronto. He spent 3 years and 3 months in pre-trial detention, of which 15 months straight were spent in solitary confinement. After bail was initially denied on 3 August 2009, Ansari was granted bail on 28 August.<ref>{{cite news |last=Teotonio |first=Isabel |date=29 Aug 2009 |title=Bail for terror suspect comes with constraints |url=https://www.thestar.com/article/688225 |newspaper=Toronto Star |access-date=7 Sep 2014 |quote=After more than three years awaiting trial behind bars, homegrown terror suspect Asad Ansari was granted bail yesterday in a Brampton court.}}</ref> He was tried simultaneously with Steven Vikash Chand and Fahim Ahmad in Brampton until Ahmad pleaded guilty. The court heard that Ansari had attended a winter training camp in Washago, Ontario, in December 2005. Ansari and Chand were the only members of the 18 tried by jury rather than by a lone judge. On 23 June 2010, Ansari and Chand were both found guilty of knowingly participating in a terrorist group.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=4 June 2008 |title=Toronto 18: Key events in the case |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto-18-key-events-in-the-case-1.715266 |newspaper=CBC News |___location=Toronto, ON |access-date=7 Sep 2014 |quote=June 23, 2010: The last two defendants — Chand and Asad Ansari, 25 — are found guilty of participating in a terrorist group. The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. A date for their sentencing has not yet been set.}}</ref> On 3 October 2010, Asad was sentenced to 6 years and 5 months, but was released and placed on probation largely due to time served.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Toole |first=Megan |date=4 Oct 2010 |title=Toronto 18's Asad Ansari sentenced to 6 years and 5 months …goes free |url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/10/04/toronto-18s-asad-ansari-sentenced-to-6-5-years-goes-free/ |newspaper=National Post |___location=Toronto, ON |access-date=7 Sep 2014 |quote=A Superior Court judge has meted out the lightest sentence to date among the adults convicted in the Toronto 18 terrorism plot. Asad Ansari, 25, became a free man yesterday after receiving six years and five months — the equivalent of time served — for his participation in the group, which plotted devastating attacks in Toronto and Ottawa. The offence carries a maximum jail term of 10 years. "While Mr. Ansari's involvement in the offence was serious, it is not at the most serious end of the scale," Justice Fletcher Dawson asserted in his 12-page ruling. }}</ref>
====No entrapment====
Defence counsel argued that police mole Shaikh was in effect [[entrap]]ping one of the men through his actions as an instructor at a training camp he had infiltrated on behalf of the RCMP. Superior Court Justice John Sproat ruled in March 2009 that there was no entrapment, noting that the camp would have proceeded as planned without Shaikh's participation, and the training and indoctrination provided would have been similar.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.thestar.com/article/607827 |title=No entrapment, judge rules in terrorism case |work=Toronto Star |date= March 25, 2009|access-date=August 25, 2015 |first=Isabel |last=Teotonio}}</ref> The judge held further: "The evidence is overwhelming that (the youth) would have committed the offence if he had never come into contact with Shaikh."<ref>{{cite news |author=Perkel, Colin |agency=The Canadian Press |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716102456/http://www.canadaeast.com/news/article/613516 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url= http://www.canadaeast.com/news/article/613516 |title=RCMP mole vindicated after judge finds no entrapment in terror case |work=Canada East |___location =Moncton, New Brunswick |date=March 24, 2009}}</ref>
The roles of two Agents were made public amid defence allegations they "perhaps provoked" the youths to make militant statements.<ref name="sinister">{{cite news |author=Austen, Ian |newspaper=The New York Times |title= At Canada Terror trial, the accused take on a less sinister cast |date=September 25, 2008}}</ref> Shaikh had been paid $292,000<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Jun13/0,4670,CanadaTerrorTrial,00.html |title=Informant in Canada terror trial paid thousands |work=Fox News |date=June 13, 2008 |access-date=March 25, 2010}}</ref> to "knowingly facilitate a terrorist activity" and asked to act as "moles" in the group, leading to accusations{{who|date=August 2014}} that they had "urged them to act, then sat back and counted [their] cash while the others went to jail".<ref name="maclean">{{cite news|___location=Toronto |work=[[Maclean's]] |url=http://www.macleans.ca/canada/features/article.jsp?content=20070910_109132_109132 |title=The Mounties' man in the Toronto terror bust admits a cocaine habit |date=September 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911103912/http://www.macleans.ca/canada/features/article.jsp?content=20070910_109132_109132 |archive-date=September 11, 2007 |df=mdy }}</ref><ref name="rat">{{cite news|author=Friscolanti, Michael |work=[[Maclean's]] |___location=Toronto |url=http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20070212_140696_140696 |title=The four-million dollar rat |date=February 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222042516/http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20070212_140696_140696 |archive-date=February 22, 2012 }}</ref> The ''Toronto Star'' reported that a well-known member of Toronto's Islamic community had infiltrated the alleged terrorist cell while on the police payroll as an informant, and that another mole had been involved in setting up the purchase of phony [[ammonium nitrate]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/toronto-bomb-plot/shaikh-interview.html |date=July 15, 2006 |title=Transcript: Mubin Shaikh interview |work=CBC News |access-date=March 25, 2010}}</ref> Elsohemy, the second mole in the case, was placed in [[witness protection]] after he agreed to help the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrange the phony ammonium nitrate purchase on behalf of the youths, which led to the allegations of a bomb plot.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite news |work=CBC News |url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/2nd-mole-played-key-role-in-bomb-plot-probe-1.580073 |title= 2nd Agent played key role in bomb plot probe |date=October 13, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=El Akad, Omar |newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]] |___location=Toronto |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070602.TERROR02/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/ |title=Online leaks get around publication ban |date=June 2, 2007 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
A third man, Qari Kafayatullah, was an Afghan immigrant who frequently told the youths that he had knowledge of explosives, and convinced their parents to let them attend the upcoming December camp – promising that it was just a bit of fun for the young men, and that he would be the responsible adult present – even though there was never any indication he later attended.<ref>{{cite news |author= Freeze, Colin |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |___location =Toronto |url= https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070116.wxinformant16/BNStory/National/home |title= Was imam another informant in Toronto terror plot? |date=January 16, 2007 | archive-date = 2007-01-18 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070118103259/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070116.wxinformant16/BNStory/National/home }}</ref>
In October 2009, a man described by prosecutors as the leader of the group, pleaded guilty to bomb charges, the fifth member of the so-called "Toronto 18" group to have admitted guilt or to have been found guilty. Zakaria Amara, 23, from [[Mississauga]], pleaded guilty in a Brampton, Ontario, court to charges of participating in the activities of a terrorist group and planning explosions likely to cause serious bodily harm or death. In January 2010, Amara was sentenced to life imprisonment. The sentence was the stiffest given so far under the ''Anti-Terrorism Act''.
Saad Gaya from [[Oakville, Ontario|Oakville]], Ontario was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison for the Toronto 18 terrorism case in 2006. He was held at the [[Maplehurst Correctional Centre]] in Milton, Ontario.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/752507--life-term-for-terror-ringleader |title=Life term for terror ringleader – Man planned to detonate three bombs at 9 a.m., when Toronto's downtown core would be bustling |work=Toronto Star |date= January 19, 2010 |access-date=March 25, 2010 |first=Isabel |last=Teotonio}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rosella |first=Louie |title=Appeal court raises sentence for convicted Oakville terrorist |url= http://www.insidehalton.com/news/news/article/918946 |work=Inside Halton |access-date=August 6, 2011 |date=December 17, 2010}}</ref> Released in 2020, he was given the green light in 2022 to become a practicing lawyer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Humphreys |first=Adrian |title=Reformed Toronto 18 terror plotter given green light to become a licensed lawyer |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/reformed-toronto-18-terror-plotter-given-green-light-to-become-a-licensed-lawyer |website=National Post}}</ref>
==Criticisms==
The Canadian Coalition for Peace and Justice (CCPJ) filed submission on behalf of some of the arrested with the United Nations Human Rights Council, Fourth Universal Periodic Review Canada (2008). Lawyer for the CCPJ, [[Faisal Kutty]], alleged on behalf of the CCPJ that Canada was in breach of its international commitments pursuant to various provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the Standard Minimum Rules for Treatment of Prisoners adopted by the First United Nations Congress in 1955; and the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1990. He called on the Human Rights Council to investigate these allegations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session4/CA/CCPJ_CAN_UPR_S4_2009_CanadianCoalitionforPeaceandJustice.pdf|title=Submission of Canadian Coalition for Peace and Justice to the United Nations Human Rights Council Fourth Universal Periodic Review Canada (2008)|website=ohchr.org|access-date=April 15, 2018|archive-date=September 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929054129/https://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session4/CA/CCPJ_CAN_UPR_S4_2009_CanadianCoalitionforPeaceandJustice.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==See also==
{{Portalbar|Ontario}}
* [[2014 shootings at Parliament Hill, Ottawa]]
* [[Buffalo Six]]
==References==
{{reflist|2|refs=
<ref name=Cbc2013-09-25>
{{cite news
|url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/toronto-18-member-ali-mohamed-dirie-reportedly-died-in-syria-1.1868119
|title = 'Toronto 18' member Ali Mohamed Dirie reportedly died in Syria: Ali Mohamed Dirie died in Syria after 2011 prison release, informant tells CBC
|publisher = [[CBC News]]
|date = 2013-09-25
|archive-date = September 27, 2013
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130927083705/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/toronto-18-member-ali-mohamed-dirie-reportedly-died-in-syria-1.1868119
|url-status = dead
|quote = A convicted member of the "Toronto 18" who plotted with al-Qaeda-inspired militants to attack Canadian institutions in 2006 has died while fighting in Syria, according to multiple sources in close contact with family and friends.
|df = mdy-all
}}
</ref>
<ref name=Ctv2006-06-05>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060605/terror_suspects_060605/20060605
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060612212155/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060605/terror_suspects_060605/20060605/
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 2006-06-12
| title = Sketches of the Ontario-based terror suspects
| publisher = [[CTV News]]
| date = 2006-06-05
| access-date = 2013-09-26
| quote = Details are starting to emerge about the lives of the suspected Islamic terrorists who were taken into custody in a series of southern Ontario raids.
}}
</ref>
<ref name="frisco">
{{cite news
|url = http://www.macleans.ca/canada/national/article.jsp?content=20080423_5562_5562
|title = The Terrorist who Wasn't
|publisher = [[Macleans magazine]]
|author = Friscolanti, Michael
|date = 2008-05-05
|archive-date = September 26, 2013
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130926095018/http://www.macleans.ca/canada/national/article.jsp?content=20080423_5562_5562
|url-status = dead
|quote = But that was before April 14, when Crown attorneys decided that four more of Canada's homegrown terror suspects weren't worth the effort. Along with Mohamed, all charges were stayed against Ibrahim Aboud, Ahmad Ghany and Abdul Qayyum Jamal. Add the three teenagers whose files were already abandoned, and the "Toronto 18" has suddenly shrunk to the "Toronto 11."
|df = mdy-all
|author-link = Michael Friscolanti
}}
</ref>
<ref name="escape">
{{cite news
|url=https://nationalpost.com/story.html?id=2e8f5170-6f5d-451a-857f-938d3b93d532
|title=After escaping war in Somalia, terror suspects grew up in Toronto
|publisher=[[National Post]]
|author=Stewart Bell
|date=2006-06-05
|access-date=2013-09-26
|df=mdy
}}{{dead link|date=February 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
</ref>
<ref name=Ynn2006-06-03>
{{cite news
|url=http://austin.ynn.com/content/news/163408/canada-arrests-17-allegedly--inspired-by-al-qaida-
|title=Canada arrests 17 allegedly 'inspired by al-Qaida'
|publisher=[[Austin News]]
|date=2006-06-03
|access-date=2013-09-27
|archive-date=September 27, 2013
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927043558/http://austin.ynn.com/content/news/163408/canada-arrests-17-allegedly--inspired-by-al-qaida-
|url-status=dead
}}
</ref>
}}
==External links==
*[https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/themanitobalawjournal/index.php/mlj/issue/view/74 Canadian Terror: Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives on the Toronto 18 Terrorism Trials], special issue of the ''[[Manitoba Law Journal]]'' (2021)
{{TorontoTerror}}
{{US War on Terror}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toronto Terrorism Plot}}
[[Category:2006 Ontario terrorism plot| ]]
[[Category:2006 in Ontario]]
[[Category:Anwar al-Awlaki]]
[[Category:Failed terrorist attempts in Canada]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism in Canada]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2006]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in North America in 2006]]
[[Category:Trials in Canada]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Canada in the 2000s]]
[[Category:2006 crimes in Canada]]
| |||