HUNTER: Father-son's Toronto terror attack plan in 'advanced stages' when thwarted, RCMP allege
'I wouldn't call it imminent but it was close,' Mounties said of the alleged planned terror attack
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The seeds of death were planted in the desert sands of Iraq.
And according to the RCMP, the “advanced” terror plot was poised to reap a bloody harvest in Toronto.
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HUNTER: Father-son's Toronto terror attack plan in 'advanced stages' when thwarted, RCMP allege Back to video
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The Mounties announced on Wednesday they arrested a father and son last weekend at a Richmond Hill hotel and charged them with a number of terrorism-related offences.
The pair were alleged devotees of the Islamic State death cult.
Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi, 62, and his son, Mostafa Eldidi, 26, are charged with participation in the activities of a terrorist group identified as the Islamic State.
The duo were also charged with facilitating terrorist activity and conspiracy to commit murder.
Investigators were tight-lipped on many aspects of the alleged massacre plan and the investigation. RCMP Supt. James Parr said that a “particular” community appears to have been the target.
Officials would not confirm whether the bull’s-eye was on the city’s embattled Jewish community.
Parr said: “(We need) a clearer picture of who their grievances might have been with.”
Inside their hotel room — police did not name the hotel — a low-tech machete and axe were recovered.
Dad was also charged with aggravated assault in connection with a 2015 ISIS-related attack in Iraq.
Cops said the Eldidis are both Canadian citizens but were unsure of when they arrived here. The father had previously been linked to ISIS so how he slipped into Canada and obtained citizenship is a mystery.
“(The father) is accused of an attack outside Canada and there was enough to charge him with it,” Parr told reporters, adding that the duo lived in a “decent home.”
But the Mountie admitted that until early July, neither father nor son were on the national security radar. Both are residents of Scarborough.
Parr said the investigation moved quickly, adding that the probe was not the result of violent and extremist posts on social media. And it does not appear the pair were funded by the Islamic State, he said.
A wide array of police, CSIS and civilians came together to “put the pieces of the puzzle together.”
“Toronto was the target,” he said. “It’s a very tense time. The (plot) was in an advanced stages of planning. I wouldn’t call it imminent but it was close.”
When the father-son alleged terrorists were arrested late at night in their hotel room, it went off without a hitch with “no damage” and “no serious injuries,” the Mountie said.
As for Islamic State, the death cult has been greatly diminished since their cherished caliphate was obliterated. Parr could not speak to the vile organization’s “bench strength.”
RCMP Asst. Commissioner Matt Peggs said that between July 1 and July 29, the two accused allegedly facilitated terrorist activity and knowingly assisted ISIS.
He added that investigators believe that in addition to Toronto, the accused may have had their sights set on other targets in York Region and elsewhere.
Officials said they do not believe there is an active threat. The Eldidis are slated to make a virtual court appearance on Thursday.
“I am very proud of the impressive team effort that made these arrests possible,” said Peggs.
“I also want to thank our law enforcement partners in the INSET group for their invaluable assistance. The RCMP Federal Police take all threats to our national security very seriously. This was an imminent threat, and we were able to prevent serious injuries or loss of life.”
Going forward, Parr added: “We’ll do what we have to do.”
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Besides the RCMP, the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario, Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Toronto Police Service, the Canada Border Service Agency, Ontario Provincial Police, York Regional Police Service, Peel Regional Police Service, and Durham Regional Police Service all collaborated in the probe.
INSET (Integrated National Security Enforcement Team) is made up of representatives of the RCMP, Municipal and Provincial police forces as well as Federal and Provincial partners and agencies.
The group collects, shares, and analyzes information that concerns threats to national security and criminal extremism/terrorism.
If you have concerns that someone is considering, planning or preparing to commit an act of violence or to help others in committing acts of terrorism, contact your local police service. If there is an immediate threat to your safety, or the safety of others, police advise to dial 911.
Non-emergency tips can be reported to the RCMP National Security Information Network by phone at 1-800-420-5805 or online at rcmp.ca/report-it.
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