Canadian Authorities Arrest 17 Suspects in Terrorism Case

On Friday, according to a release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the RCMP and partners of the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, arrested 17 individuals and charged them under Section 83 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

"This group took steps to acquire three tons of ammonium nitrate and other components necessary to create explosive devices," said Assistant Commissioner Mike McDonell. "To put this in context, the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people took one ton of ammonium nitrate."

Arrested and charged with offenses under the Criminal Code of Canada are:

• Fahim Ahmad, 21
• Zakaria Amara, 20
• Asad Ansari, 21
• Shareef Abdelhaleen, 30
• Qayyum Abdul Jamal, 43
• Mohammed Dirie, 22
• Yasim Abdi Mohamed, 24
• Jahmaal James, 23
• Amin Mohamed Durrani, 19
• Vikash Chand alias Abdul Shakur, 25
• Ahmad Mustafa Ghany, 21
• Saad Khalid, 19
• Five young persons.

"Our investigation and arrests prevented the assembly of explosive devices and attacks being carried out. At all times, the focus of our investigation was the safety and protection of the public," concluded McDonell.