The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) disclosed that a minor has been apprehended in Montreal regarding terrorism accusations. According to a press release issued on Friday, the RCMP indicated that the “young man” was allegedly planning an assault directed at a school in the city. It is reported that the individual utilized artificial intelligence in the potential scheme and disseminated threatening messages via the platform Telegram, targeting various communities such as Muslims, Haitians, and the 2SLGBTQ+ population, as per RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Érique Gasse.
Sgt. Gasse mentioned that the FBI provided information a few weeks ago suggesting the individual’s intentions to carry out an attack. The arrest took place at the suspect’s residence on Friday morning as part of an investigation conducted by the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, which focuses on tracking and disrupting criminal activities of terrorist entities or individuals posing threats to Canada’s national security.
The suspect is currently undergoing questioning by investigators while a search of his residence is being conducted to locate electronic devices or any items relevant to the investigation. The police operation aimed to disrupt the individual’s suspected activities and to secure a peace bond for monitoring and de-escalation measures, as stated in the news release.
Sgt. Gasse indicated that the individual is scheduled to appear in youth court on Saturday morning, with the possibility of facing charges at a later stage.
