Gotta watch out for those Canadian terrorists, eh? What’s that? A Muslim? No, that’s not important. What’s that? The common denominator of some of the primary groups committing terrorist acts today? What are you, some kind of Islamophobe? And on Christmas Eve, yet! From the Globe and Mail, with thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist:
A Canadian played a major role in a failed 2004 terrorist plot by showing accomplices how to develop detonators, build a bomb and move money so that they could attack Britain, according to Crown prosecutors.
New charges filed in Ottawa on Dec. 16 reveal the specifics of the government’s case against Mohammad Momin Khawaja, who was arrested in 2004 as Canadian and British police staged co-ordinated antiterrorism raids against nearly a dozen suspects.
The charges filed in court last week say that Mr. Khawaja was involved in several aspects of an alleged al-Qaeda-style conspiracy, a scheme that was ultimately thwarted….
The case is crucial, because it will help determine whether Canada can openly prosecute terrorism cases within its borders….
That this is even a question shows what deep trouble we are in.
Mr. Khawaja, a 26-year-old Canadian of Pakistani heritage, has denied being a terrorist ever since March, 2004, when RCMP officers arrested him at work fixing computers for Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs. At the same time, British police rounded up nine suspects and 600 kilograms of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, which can be used to make explosives, stored in a London suburb.
At first, Mr. Khawaja was charged with knowingly participating in a terrorist group and knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity. The additional charges filed last week allege that he also:
“Did work on the development of a device to activate a detonator;”
Had “in his possession or under his care or control an explosive substance;”
Instructed a friend “to open a bank account and conduct financial transactions on his behalf for the benefit of a terrorist group;”
Participated “in dialogue, meetings, or exchanges of information relating to the development of an explosive device.”