The four Quebec City-area men whom the RCMP arrested last week in relation to an alleged terrorism plot did not get their weapons, ammunition or explosives from the Canadian Armed Forces, according to a Department of National Defence statement.
“Of note, the weapons, ammunition, and explosives that were seized as part of the RCMP-led investigation that resulted in the arrests on July 8, 2025, did not originate from the Canadian Armed Forces,” a DND statement issued Monday read. “The Military Police and the Canadian Army continue to support the ongoing investigation led by the RCMP and no further details can be released.”
Released hours before the four suspects were scheduled to appear in Quebec court for their latest hearings, the statement did not reveal where the men obtained their guns and ammunition.
The RCMP arrested and charged four men last week in dawn operations. They included Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, of Quebec City; Simon Angers-Audet, 24, of Neuville and Raphaël Lagacé, 25, of Quebec City.
In a brief Quebec City court appearance Monday morning, a Crown prosecutor said the government would oppose bail for those three suspects in the case.
Crown prosecutor Gabriel Lapierre cited a section of the Criminal Code that allows for detention when necessary for the protection or safety of the public and the accused face lengthy prison sentences.
A two-day bail hearing was set for the three men for July 24 and 25. A TV was requested so videos and images could be screened in the courtroom.
The RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team said those three, all from Quebec, took concrete actions to facilitate terrorist activity and are each facing one charge of facilitating terrorist activity. They face a maximum sentence of 14 years if found guilty.
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A fourth arrested suspect — identified by RCMP as Matthew Forbes, 33, of Pont-Rouge — faces charges including possession of firearms, prohibited devices and explosives, and possession of controlled items.
At a separate bail hearing Monday, federal Crown prosecutor Gabriel Lapierre agreed to Forbes’s release later this week on $60,000 bail and other conditions.
Court heard that Forbes’s wife and mother will each deposit $20,000 with the court, while Forbes himself made a personal undertaking to deposit a further $20,000.
Forbes was ordered to stay at his home 24 hours a day, unless he was working or transporting himself or family members to medical appointments or school.
The ruling also ordered Forbes to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet on his ankle and that his military passport be seized. He also agreed not to leave the province for any reason or apply for a civilian passport or possess any arms, ammunition, knives or explosives.
Forbes also agreed to make no comments about his case on any social media platforms like X or Facebook or give any media interviews. He will return to court Sept. 12.
Asked by the judge if he had munitions at his home right now, Forbes replied he did.
“The RCMP forgot one munition at my house during the search of January 2024,” he told the court.
Lapierre said the RCMP would contact Forbes’s wife and immediately seize the unidentified munition.
Forbes’s mother, who identified herself as Chantel Lemay, was watching the bail hearing on a Teams channel and told the judge she was looking forward to seeing her son again.
Forbes was also ordered not to communicate with a Longueuil, Que., man identified as Julien Thibault and the three other suspects, who allegedly plotted to take over an unidentified property by force.
Global News reported last week that Forbes is listed as president of Northern Tactical Defence Inc., a Quebec-registered corporation which he co-owns and is based at his Pont-Rouge home. It was created in September 2023, and Thibault is listed as the company’s vice-president.
Other charges have also been laid against the four accused for offences related to possession of prohibited devices, transfer of firearms and ammunition, careless storage of firearms, possession of explosives and possession of controlled items.
The RCMP says it conducted searches in January 2024 in Quebec City that led to the seizure of 16 explosive devices, 83 firearms and accessories, approximately 11,000 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, nearly 130 magazines, four pairs of night vision goggles and military equipment.
The police said the men wanted to create their own militia and “were allegedly involved in activities intending to forcibly take possession of land in the Québec City area,” and described the case as one of “ideologically motivated violent extremism.”
The three accused took part in military-style training, police allege, as well as shooting, ambush, survival and navigation exercises. They also allegedly conducted a scouting operation.
So far, the men have made no comments on the allegations.
The military statement added that the four suspects have not been performing military duties and do not have unescorted access to the Quebec City-area Valcartier military base.
“At any time, should the integrity of a CAF member be called into question, various actions include restricting access to the base, weapons, and individuals’ security clearances in addition to other administrative measures,” the Canadian Forces said, without elaborating.
A lawyer for several Quebec news organizations filed a motion to have 100 different search warrants and other judicial authorizations obtained by the RCMP unsealed and their contents made public.
The Crown prosecutor agreed to hold a hearing during the first week of August that will aim to complete that lengthy process so the materials can also be disclosed to the accused.
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