Edmonton-area teen arrested on terror charges

WATCH ABOVE: A Beaumont teenager has been arrested and charged with serious terror-related offences. Shallima Maharaj has more.

EDMONTON — A teenager from the Edmonton area has been arrested and charged with trying to leave Canada to take part in terrorist activity.

The RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team in Alberta made the arrest on Thursday.

The 17 year old boy – who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act – was arrested in Beaumont, a bedroom community south of Edmonton.

The youth is facing two charges:

– Attempting to leave Canada to participate in activity of a terrorist group

– Attempting to leave Canada to commit offence that is terrorist activity

Court documents say the alleged offences involve the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and are to have taken place on or about March 8 at or near Beaumont, Edmonton, Calgary “and elsewhere.”

READ MORE: Three Canadians believed killed in Syria known to Edmonton police 

“While it may be difficult for parents to come forward to the police, it is important for families and communities to contact police as soon as they suspect that an individual is being radicalized,” said Sgt. Harold Pfleiderer, a media relations officer with the RCMP.

“While early intervention is our primary approach, after assessment, arrests and charges may be the only option in the interest of public safety. This also ensures that the individual has access to necessary support and assessment services,” added Pfleiderer.

The teen was denied bail Thursday by a justice of the peace, who cited safety and protection of the public.

The accused has been remanded in custody and is to appear in youth court April 9.

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“We congratulate our police and national security agencies for their work in this case,” said a spokesperson for the federal minister of public safety.

“This is a further reminder that the threat of terrorism is real.

WATCH: The Beaumont case is just the latest report of a Canadian allegedly wanting to join a terrorist group. Vassy Kapelos explains.

“That is why our government has put forward the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015 to better protect Canadians against jihadi terrorists, and that is why we are not sitting on the sidelines – as the Liberals and NDP would have do – and are instead joining our Allies in the international coalition in the fight against ISIL,” the ministry spokesperson continued.

Bill C-51, introduced in January, would give police broader powers and allow them to detain terror suspects and give new powers to Canada’s spy agency.

Opposition parties have criticized the bill for being too broad and vague and point out that are already some powers in place that Canada’s security agencies aren’t using.

With files from Chris Purdy, The Canadian Press