Most of the suspects accused in a homegrown terrorist plot were due to appear in court at bail hearings yesterday, though prosecutors could ask the judge to ban the media from reporting on any of the detailed allegations against the Canadian citizens.
Fourteen of the 17 males -- including five teenagers -- were due to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton, just west of Toronto. Another is scheduled to appear on July 4 and two others are already in prison on unrelated weapons charges.
Canadian law allows judges to institute bans against publishing details from court hearings, in an effort to protect the suspect's right to a fair trial. It won't be clear if the prosecutors intend to request such a ban until the hearing begins, though judges typically grant these requests in high-profile criminal cases.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced on June 2 that authorities had foiled a terrorist attack on southern Ontario targets, saying the men had obtained 3 tonnes of ammonium nitrate.
The news has roiled the country, which has widely viewed itself as immune to such homegrown hatred, unlike its neighbor to the south, the US. But Canada has become a named target for Islamic extremists -- due to its dominant Christian base and close ties with Washington.
Post Sept. 11, Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda terrorist network named Canada as one of the top five countries ripe for attacks against its people.
A defense lawyer for one suspect revealed outside the Brampton court last Tuesday that prosecutors would argue that some of the Muslim defendants were plotting to storm parliament, take politicians hostage and behead them unless Canada withdrew its troops from Afghanistan.
Each is charged with one count of participating in a terrorist group. Three of them are also charged with importing weapons and ammunition for the purpose of terrorist activity.
Nine face charges of receiving training from a terrorist group, while four are charged with providing training. Six also are charged with intending to cause an explosion that could cause serious bodily harm or death.
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