RCMP arrest Montreal teenager on terrorism allegations after tip from FBI
RCMP arrest Montreal teenager on terrorism allegations after tip from FBI
The RCMP arrested an 18-year-old Montreal man Thursday on allegations he was going to commit a terrorism offence based on a tip from the FBI.
Police officers searched the home of Mohamed Amine Assal in the city's Saint-Laurent borough Thursday afternoon. The accused appeared in court via videoconference and agreed to a terrorism peace bond with several conditions.
According to a news release from the RCMP, the arrest was aimed at "disrupting the suspicious activities of Mr. Assal and ensuring he undertakes to keep the peace pursuant to section 810.011 of the Criminal Code."
Assal has not been charged and none of the allegations has been proven in court.
The Crown agreed to his release on conditions that include the surrender of his passport to the RCMP and a ban on using cellphones or computers unless it's for school purposes. He must also wear a GPS tracking device and respect a curfew.
"The purpose of those conditions is to ensure that the offence is stopped or not committed and the offender undertakes to keep the peace and be of good behaviour," said Nancy Perrault of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, outside of court.
"The RCMP feared that he may commit a terrorism offence and facilitating terrorism activity because of his exchanges on social media."
A document filed with the court in order to obtain the peace bond, and obtained by CTV News, contained allegations from an FBI source about several posts on various social media and messaging apps, including the Telegram app.
The RCMP's Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) started its investigation on March 14 after receiving information from the FBI.
Police alleged in the document that a person in Montreal using the messaging app Telegram with the username @abujoe000 appeared to plan terrorist activity for the benefit of ISIS.
The document alleged that user was "radicalized by ISIS" and was among a group of six people who had been convinced by an ISIS supporter based in Italy to "conduct attacks."
The user, according to the document, was "planning an attack" and was trying to secretly convince others to join his cause.
In justifying the request for a peace bond, the RCMP investigator alleged that the user advocated violence against non-Muslims and "offered advice to another Telegram user on how to make an IED and offers to contact him by phone to discuss" how to make it.
Assal's lawyer said Thursday he needs time to review the evidence. "It's on a USB key, which shows that it has a certain volume to it and so it will take time to go through all of that," Morena said, adding that his client is taking the allegations "quite hard."
"As anyone who would be in this situation, it's not easy," he told reporters.
"However, the result today is a positive one in light that he received conditions for his release and the case will follow course with him free, which is a big plus."
The RCMP said charges could be laid at another date since their investigation is ongoing.
Canada's special rapporteur on foreign interference David Johnston is being questioned by MPs at committee about his role, his report into election meddling, his decision against a public inquiry, and allegations of a conflict of interest.
The number of interactions between killer whales and humans has increased alarmingly in recent years. CTVNews.ca asked an expert to explain the reasons behind the increase in interactions, explore the types of encounters, and examine the implications for both humans and killer whales.
An internal document suggests Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants China kept out of a Pacific Rim trade bloc, despite the Liberals publicly insisting it would welcome anyone who meets the trade deal's standards.
Prince Harry entered a courtroom witness box Tuesday, swearing to tell the truth in testimony against a tabloid publisher he accuses of phone hacking and other unlawful snooping.
Canada's emergency preparedness minister says images of wildfires burning across the country are some of the most severe ever witnessed in Canada and the current forecast for the next few months indicates the potential for continued higher-than-normal fire activity.
Many Canadian parents are stretching themselves thin — even going as far as to postpone their retirement in some cases — in order to help pay for their children’s education, according to a new survey.
Police in Australia are investigating the suspicious death of a woman who used to live in Surrey, BC, after her body was found in her apartment on the outskirts of Sydney.
The wall of a major dam in a part of southern Ukraine that Moscow controls collapsed Tuesday, triggering floods, endangering Europe's largest nuclear power plant and threatening drinking water supplies as both sides in the war rushed to evacuate residents and blamed each other for the emergency.
A huge Soviet-era dam on the Dnipro River that separates Russian and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine was breached on Tuesday, unleashing floodwaters across the war zone.
A grieving widow whose husband was run over and killed by a speeding OPP officer can't believe the force told her it won't hold a public hearing into the case because it decided the misconduct was 'not serious.'
Hammonds Plains Road reopened to traffic early Tuesday morning more than week after wildfires began in the Halifax area. Officials say the fires in the area are contained, though crews continue to deal with hot spots and flare ups.
Canada's emergency preparedness minister says images of wildfires burning across the country are some of the most severe ever witnessed in Canada and the current forecast for the next few months indicates the potential for continued higher-than-normal fire activity.
Marking the two year anniversary of the alleged terror attack that took the lives of four members of the same family, the board has announced an Anti-Islamophobia Strategy.
On this day in 2021, four out of five members of a London, Ont. family were killed while they were out for a walk and struck by a vehicle, in an apparently deliberate attack.
One person has died after a motorcycle crash in Lambton County. The crash happened June 2 just before 9:30 p.m. and officers responded to a ditch on Shiloh Line in Petrolia.
While firefighters get more forest fires under control in northern Ontario, travel restrictions declared under an emergency order are being expanded in several communities.
A 13-year-old male from Elliot Lake in northern Ontario has been charged with sexual assault again, bringing the total to 10, after another survivor came forward.
A grieving widow whose husband was run over and killed by a speeding OPP officer can't believe the force told her it won't hold a public hearing into the case because it decided the misconduct was 'not serious.'
Calgary-based Cenovus Energy says it has safely restarted a portion of its production that was shut down because of the threat of wildfires in northern and central Alberta.
The provincial wildfire service is warning British Columbians to have a go-bag and make an evacuation plan with this year's wildfire season off to an alarming start.
Many Canadian parents are stretching themselves thin — even going as far as to postpone their retirement in some cases — in order to help pay for their children’s education, according to a new survey.
Real estate experts say B.C.’s housing market is heating back after cooling off due to rising interest rates but the future is uncertain as several economists expect the Bank of Canada to hike rates again.
Canada's emergency preparedness minister says images of wildfires burning across the country are some of the most severe ever witnessed in Canada and the current forecast for the next few months indicates the potential for continued higher-than-normal fire activity.
Edmonton police launched a new tool Monday to encourage reports of "hate incidents," something officers believe will help them track people who may escalate to "hate crimes."
Many Canadian parents are stretching themselves thin — even going as far as to postpone their retirement in some cases — in order to help pay for their children’s education, according to a new survey.
It’s been 79 years since the war effort known as ‘D-Day,’ which eventually led to the liberation of western Europe during World War II. The day was marked with a service in Normandy with the Royal Regina Rifles on hand.
The wildfire burning at Centennial Lake, about 150 km west of Ottawa is still not under control, but the local mayor says it has been significantly reduced.
Capital Pride will be receiving money from the federal government to cover costs of added security measures at this year's Pride parade and other events.
While Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) publicly mulled moving its downtown emergency shelter to a location on 20th Street near the city's core, city documents reveal the wellness centre's present Fairhaven area location was heavily favoured early in the process.
Canada's emergency preparedness minister says images of wildfires burning across the country are some of the most severe ever witnessed in Canada and the current forecast for the next few months indicates the potential for continued higher-than-normal fire activity.
