Two men have been arrested in Ottawa in connection with a terrorist plot to bomb a train:
TORONTO, April 22 (Reuters) – Canadian police said on Monday they had arrested and charged two men with an “al Qaeda-supported” plot to derail a passenger train.
“Had this plot been carried out, it would have resulted in innocent people being killed or seriously injured,” Royal Canadian Mounted Police official James Malizia told reporters in Toronto.
The RCMP said it had arrested Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, of Montreal, and Raed Jaser, 35, of Toronto in connection with the plot, which authorities said was not linked to the Boston Marathon bombings, but likely had connections to al-Qaeda.
Neither is a Canadian citizen.
This is a breaking story and some of the things presently being reported may change as we know more. At this point:
- There does not appear to be any connection between this plot and the Boston Marathon bombing.
- The plot was “al Qaeda-supported” whatever that means.
- Two men have been arrested, neither Canadian citizens.
- It is being reported that the plot was guided from Iran.
Update
The official statement on the arrests from the RCMP is here.
From the press conference:
Police said the two accused were getting “direction and guidance” from al-Qaeda elements in Iran. There was no information to suggest the attacks were state sponsored, police said.
