Mounties Foil 'Al Qaeda-Inspired' Bomb Plot

 

Two  people are being held after pressure  cooker bombs were  found near provincial government buildings in Victoria, British Columbia.

The bombs were found outside the buildings before  a crowd of forty thousand people gathered to celebrate Canada Day, a national holiday. Celebrating Canada's birthday, annually, brings the population together for parades and fireworks.

 

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have charged two people "inspired by al Qaeda" who allegedly plotted to bomb the provincial government buildings and all the people gathered outside. John Stewart Nuttall and Amanda Marie Korody planned to use pressure cooker devices on the British Columbia legislature buildings in Victoria, the Mounties said.

 

 The pair targeted the Canada celebrations on Monday specifically because thousands of people were expected to be there. But fortunately the bombs were found well before the crowds gathered, police said. Nuttall and Korody, who were arrested on Monday, have been charged with conspiracy, facilitating a terrorist activity and making an explosive device.

 Britsh Columbia Government  building.

 

Police said that while Nuttall, 38, and Korody, whose age was given as either 28 or 29, were "inspired by al Qaeda ideology", they appeared to be acting alone.

"This self-radicalized behaviour was intended to create maximum impact and harm to Canadian citizens on a national holiday," Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner Wayne Rideout said," but they appear to have no link to any international organizations".

"They took steps to educate themselves and produce explosive devices designed to cause injury and death."

 Rideout said the public was never at risk, and the threat was detected early. Police said the duo had been shadowed by investigators since February after coming to the attention of Canadian intelligence.

Supt Rideout said Nuttall and Korody discussed a wide variety of targets and techniques.

Supt Rideout (pictured) said the pair discussed a wide variety of targets

 

British Columbia Premier Christy Clark said she was relieved that the pair appeared to be acting alone."A day after thousands of patriotic Canadians gathered on these grounds to celebrate the founding of our nation, I'm incredibly relieved to know that there was never any risk to anyone," she said.

"We're also told that the suspects have no ties to any groups inside or outside Canada. Again, an incredible relief that these two individuals appeared to be working alone."

Canada's security intelligence service has long been aware of the continuing threat of homegrown and external terrorism . There was no evidence linking the two arrested individuals with those behind the Boston Marathon bombing in April, who also used pressure cooker devices.

Canada is no longer as safe as we all believed.  We are being infiltrated, not only by people with radical beliefs but also by extreme ideologies.  As frightening as that is, we all have to become more aware and informed. And we have to take steps to ramp up our security all around. As a nation we have always been trusting and somewhat naïve. It's a harsher, meaner world now and likely to get more so.