Fox News reports in my breaking news email that Canada has made arrests of individuals planning a ‘major terrorist attack’, possibly in the US and the intended target could have been NYC:
Canadian authorities are expected this afternoon to announce the arrests of suspects who planned a major terrorist attack, possibly in the U.S., Fox News has confirmed. A Justice Department source confirmed the arrests Monday. There is no definite word on the target of the attacks, but New York City may have been one of the targets. An official says there is no current credible threat to New York City.
And here’s the latest from Reuters:
REUTERS – Canadian police and intelligence agencies will announce multiple arrests on Monday after an operation to thwart a “major terrorist attack,” the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported, citing unidentified “highly placed” sources.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement that they would provide details about a “national security criminal investigation” at a news conference at 3:30 p.m. ET (1930 GMT)
The statement, which gave no details of arrests, said security forces had conducted joint operations in Toronto and in Montreal, Canada’s two biggest cities.
U.S. officials said the alleged plot was not linked with last week’s Boston Marathon bombings. CBC said the operations was conducted with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.
I’ll keep you updated with the latest as it develops.
UPDATE: Involved derailment of Amtrak Passenger Train…
BREAKING NEWS – CANADIAN TERROR PLOT INVOLVED DERAILMENT OF AMTRAK PASSENGER TRAIN FROM NEW YORK TO TORONTO. CTV. #911BUFF
— 911 Operator (@911BUFF) April 22, 2013
UPDATE 2: Reuters confirms railroad attack:
* Two men arrested, following year-long investigation – media
U.S. security and law enforcement sources also said the suspects had sought to attack the railroad between Toronto and New York City. Canadian media said two men had been arrested after raids in Toronto and Montreal, Canada’s two biggest cities.
UPDATE 3: They believe it is linked to al Qaeda:
The RCMP accuses the two men of conspiring to commit “al-Qaeda-supported attack” against a Via passenger train.
“Had this plot been carried out, it would have resulted in innocent people being killed or seriously injured,” RCMP Assistant Commissioner James Malizia told reporters.
While Malizia said the two had the “capacity and intent” to carry out the attack, he added there was “no imminent threat to the public, rail employees or infrastructure.”
UPDATE 4: The terrorist’s names are revealed:
The RCMP says police have arrested two people in Canada in connection with a plot to bomb a passenger train.
The alleged conspiracy was “an al-Qaeda-supported” plot, Assistant Commissioner James Malizia told reporters.
The two accused are Chiheb Esseghaier of Montreal and Raed Jaser of Toronto, the RCMP said.
UPDATE 5: Info tweets from Jeff Semple with CBC News:
The two accused are not Canadian citizens, say police. Won’t say what country they’re from, or how they got into Canada. #sl
— Jeff Semple (@JeffSempleCBC) April 22, 2013
Police say two accused were receiving support from “Al-Qaeda elements” located in Iran, but NO info to suggest plot was state-sponsored. #sl
— Jeff Semple (@JeffSempleCBC) April 22, 2013