At 13:00 hrs on August 26^th afternoon, the “A” Division RCMP held a press conference with regards to the arrest of three individuals by the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (AINSET), in relation to terrorist offences. Here is the integral speech pronounced by the Commanding Officer of “A” Division, Assistant Commissioner François Bidal, as well as the Officer in Charge of Criminal Operations, Chief Superintendant Serge Therriault.

Assistant Commissioner François Bidal’s Speaking Points

• Over the course of the past 36 hours the RCMP “A” Division Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (AINSET) arrested two Ottawa residents, named Hiva Mohammad Alizadeh and Misbahuddin Ahmed, and arrested a London Ontario resident named Khurram Syed Sher in relation to terrorist offences. Search warrants have been executed in order to secure additional evidence. The investigation is ongoing.

• The AINSET is currently comprised of investigators from the RCMP, Ottawa Police Service (OPS), Sûreté du Québec (SQ), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). Further assistance was also provided by the London Ontario Police Service, as well as the RCMP in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Québec.

• INSETs work toward reducing the threat of terrorist criminal activity in Canada and abroad. These specialized investigative teams are responsible for detecting, preventing, disrupting and investigating terrorism.

• They are a direct result of the Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act that was enacted so terrorism could be fought more effectively while respecting human rights.  Canadians and people everywhere are entitled to live their lives in peace, freedom and security.

• I would like to thank all of the men and women who have worked many long hours in order to protect the safety and security of our communities. I would also like to thank their families who have made many sacrifices and continue to support our efforts to keep Canadians safe.

• Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge the tremendous support and cooperation of all policing and intelligence partners, with whom we have collaborated from the beginning of this criminal investigation.

• At all times, the primary focus of the criminal investigation was the safety and protection of the public. We continue to work closely with partners at all levels – municipal, provincial, federal and international – to ensure everyone’s safety and security. These arrests demonstrate Canada’s resolve to root out terrorist threats and prosecute terrorists through a fair and open judicial process.

• Before we talk about the police investigation, I would like to invite Mr. Raymond Boisvert, Assistant Director CSIS, to speak.

• Thank you Mr Boisvert, I will now turn it over to C/Supt. Serge Therriault, the Officer in Charge of Criminal Operations here at “A” Division, who will share some of the highlights of this National Security criminal investigation with you.

Chief Superintendant Serge Therriault’s Speaking Points

• Since September 2009, AINSET has been conducting a criminal investigation into the activities of several individuals in regards to terrorism in Canada and abroad.

• Project SAMOSSA focused on the criminal activities of several Canadian citizens, and their intent to commit a violent terrorist act.

• The objective of this national security criminal investigation has always been to protect the Canadian public from a terrorist attack by identifying persons participating in any plan to carry out terrorist criminal activity, by determining their roles, and by gathering evidence leading to the prosecution of those involved.

• Throughout the course of this year-long criminal investigation, investigators have conducted extensive surveillance on the suspects involved, and employed various other police techniques to gather the evidence to support criminal charges.

• At this time, investigators have grounds to believe that Hiva Mohammad Alizadeh, Misbahuddin Ahmed and Khurram Syed Sher form part of a “Terrorist Group”, as it is defined in the Criminal Code, and were participating in “Terrorist Activity” in relation to that group, within Canada.

• The individuals targeted by Project SAMOSSA were in possession of schematics, videos, drawings, instructions, books and electronic components designed specifically for the construction of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The RCMP has evidence to support the fact that a member of this group has also taken training that provided him with the knowledge to construct electronic and explosive devices.

• Amongst other things, investigators have seized more than 50 electronic circuit boards designed specifically to remotely detonate IEDs.

• AINSET investigators have grounds to believe that Alizadeh, Ahmed and Sher are part of a domestic terrorist group operating in Canada. We also believe that Alizadeh is a member of, and remains in contact with, a terrorist group with links to the conflict in Afghanistan.

• Part of the decision to make the arrests at this time was to prevent the suspects from providing financial support to terrorist counterparts for the purchase of weapons, which would in turn be used against coalition forces and our troops.

Charges

Hiva Mohammad Alizadeh, is a 30-year-old Canadian citizen and resident of Ottawa.
Misbahuddin Ahmed, is a 26-year-old Canadian citizen and resident of Ottawa.
Khurram Syed Sher, is a 28-year-old Canadian citizen and resident of London, Ontario.

They have been charged as follows:

1. That Hiva Mohammad Alizadeh, Misbahuddin Ahmed and Khurram Syed Sher, between the 1st day of February, 2008 and the 24th day of August, 2010, did conspire with James Lara, Rizgar Alizadeh and Zakaria Mamosta, and person or persons unknown, at or near the City of Ottawa, Province of Ontario, and elsewhere in Canada, and in Iran, Afghanistan, Dubai and Pakistan, to commit an indictable offence, to wit: knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity, in violation of s. 83.19 of the Criminal Code, thereby committing an offence under s. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code.

1. That Hiva Mohammad Alizadeh unlawfully did, between the 1st day of September, 2009 and the 24th day of August, 2010, in the City of Ottawa, Province of Ontario, commit an indictable offence, to wit: making or having in his possession an explosive substance with intent thereby to endanger life or cause serious damage to property, or to enable another person to do so, in violation of s. 81(1)(d) of the Criminal Code, for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a terrorist group, thereby committing an offence contrary to s. 83.2 of the Criminal Code.

1. That Hiva Mohammad Alizadeh unlawfully did, between the 1st day of September, 2009 and the 24th day of August, 2010, in the City of Ottawa, Province of Ontario, and elsewhere in Canada, directly or indirectly, collect property, provide or invite a person to provide, or make available property or financial services, knowing that, in whole or in part, they will be used by or will benefit a terrorist group, contrary to s. 83.03 of the Criminal Code.

• Amongst the items seized at various locations were circuit boards intended for use as components in Remote Controlled Improvised Explosive Devices. These are considered to be explosive substances as defined in the Criminal Code. A vast quantity of terrorist literature and instructional material was seized, showing that the suspects had the intent to construct an explosive device for terrorist purposes.

• This group posed a real and serious threat to the citizens of the National Capital Region and Canada’s national security. Our criminal investigation and arrests prevented the assembly of any bombs and the terrorist attack(s) from being carried out.

• This criminal investigation is ongoing and we have an obligation to protect the integrity of the evidence we have uncovered. As this matter is now before the courts, the RCMP will not comment further on the specifics of this particular case.

• In any such investigation, our strength is our ability to mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, and information through greater cooperation among stakeholders, including members of the private sector, community groups and the general public. Within the NCR, we join efforts with the first responder community under the umbrella of Operation INTERSECT. This is a program designed to ensure we respond in a standardized, integrated and coordinated manner to the ever-changing threats. It establishes a response framework that makes the most of both human and technical resources from partner agencies.

• In closing, I would encourage the public to call the National Security TIP Line at 1-800-420-5805 to report information regarding terrorism, criminal extremism or suspicious activities that could pose a threat to public safety and security. You, the public, are our most valuable partners in maintaining the level of safety and security all of us enjoy in this country. Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism.

A Message from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)

As part of its mandate, CSIS conducted its own separate, parallel investigation in order to obtain security intelligence information concerning the individuals arrested. Security intelligence leads collected by CSIS relating to potentially serious threats to the safety and security of Canadians were provided to the RCMP. The RCMP and their law enforcement colleagues in INSET undertook an intensive and exhaustive criminal investigation which culminated in the arrests of these individuals.

This case is an excellent example of the strong relationship which exists between CSIS and the RCMP; two independent agencies with separate mandates. CSIS is publicly acknowledging its role to clearly demonstrate that it is actively engaged in keeping Canadians safe.