Father, son arrested for ‘alleged terrorist activities’ in Toronto-area: RCMP

A father and son are facing charges for “alleged terrorist activities” in the Greater Toronto Area, the RCMP say.

Ahmed and Mostafa Eldidi were charged with six terrorism offences, records obtained by Global News indicate. They are accused of planning an attack for the benefit of ISIS, but the target remains unknown.

On the rcmp.ca website, the RCMP said that under the Criminal Code, “terrorist activity” is defined as an act or omission committed in whole, or in part, for a political, religious or ideological purpose, objective or cause.

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That includes with the intention of intimidating the public or segment thereof, with regard to its security, or to compel a government to do something or refrain from doing something, as well as with intent to cause serious violence to persons, property, critical infrastructure, or essential systems.

The RCMP added terrorist activity also includes preparatory offences such as attempts, counselling, threats, conspiracy, and being an accessory after the fact.

0:33 RCMP say alleged terror plot was in its ‘advanced stages’

“While the Criminal Code definition of terrorist activity forms the basis for all terrorism offences, this definition/threshold does not need to be met for the RCMP to investigate violent extremism or terrorism-related conduct,” it said.

“Like other offences in the Criminal Code, terrorism offences are tools that can be used to disrupt criminal threat actors. The RCMP can pursue a range of criminal offences to disrupt violent extremist and terrorist threat activity.”

— with files from Stewart Bell