RCMP charge Kingston, Ont., youth with terror-related offence after security probe

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The RCMP’s national security team has arrested and charged an Ontario youth with a terrorism-related offence, the police force said Friday following an investigation in Kingston, Ont.

Police have laid two charges against the young person, who is accused of knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity and counselling another person to “deliver, place, discharge or detonate an explosive or other lethal device … against a place of public use with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury.”

The identity of the accused has been withheld by police as the person is a minor and protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

During a press conference Friday, the RCMP said it received a “credible” tip from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation in late December 2018 that there were individuals in Kingston planning a terrorist attack, which led to the police raids at two homes in the area Thursday.

A source with knowledge of the investigation said the alleged terrorist activity involved a plan to use an explosive device; no specific target had yet been chosen. The accused had the intent, began acquiring the potential to create an improvised explosive device and formulated a plan, but were arrested before they had chosen a target, the source said.

“There was no specific target identified but there was an attack planned,” RCMP Superintendent Peter Lambertucci told reporters. While an attack was considered imminent, the officer said there was no credible threat to the people of Kingston.

“I want to reassure the citizens of the greater Kingston, Ont., area and all Canadians that during the investigation, our primary focus was the safety and protection of the public,” said Michael LeSage, a chief superintendent with the RCMP’s “O” Division.

After the arrests, the RCMP found “elements” and “trace elements” of homemade improvised explosive devices in an unspecified residence. The explosive substance was later neutralized, Lambertucci said.

A second individual, an adult male CBC News has identified as Hussam Eddin Alzahabi, was also arrested Thursday but has not been charged. Alzahabi’s father told CBC News that police have now released his son.

Hussam’s lawyer, Mohamed El Rashidy, told CBC News that his client maintains his innocence and will continue to co-operate with the security services as the investigation unfolds.

“He’s exercising his legal rights and he cares about Canada’s safety as much as the next person,” said El Rashidy. “He’s here studying, he’s doing everything that he can to be a contributing member to society and there is no reason to malign him or treat him differently than anybody else.”

Lambertucci said the investigation is still ongoing. Police had 24 hours to press charges against Alzahabi or release him from custody.

The officer would not comment on the ideological motivations of the people apprehended or say if they had any ties to foreign elements.