LONDON, Ont. – Muslim leaders in London, Ont., say a report that two Canadians involved in a terrorist attack in Algeria were from the southwestern Ontario city should not reflect on their community.
The London Muslim Association held a news conference today to publicly distance their community from the reported actions of Ali Medlej and Xristos Katsiroubas, both in their 20s.
CBC News reports that the two men, who met in high school in London, were among the 29 militants killed in the four-day siege of an Algerian natural gas plant in January.
Munir El-Kassem says no one he has talked to in the Muslim community in the city seems to know either man or their families.
El-Kassem says if youth are searching for radical ideas they won’t find them in the Muslim community in London, but he says misinformation about Islam is rampant on the Internet.
He says London’s Muslim community is a peaceful one and doesn’t welcome radical views.
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird would not confirm if either Medlej or Katsiroubas played a role the siege, but he acknowledged Canadian links to homegrown terrorism.
Vlog: Jennifer Tryon visits the hometown of alleged terror suspects
Medlej and Katsiroubas reportedly went to London South Collegiate High School in London, Ontario.
Global’s Jennifer Tryon went to the community to find out more about the alleged terrorists.
*With files from Global News
Comments