Terror Cell Targets

A cell of young, homegrown terrorists targeted key landmarks and security service locations in a plot that ended last Friday with a controlled delivery by police of three tons of material the terror suspects thought was ammonium nitrate. The plot was hatched in internet chat rooms, and that is where the investigation was begun by Canada’s domestic spy service, CSIS. It was soon joined by the country’s federal police, The Mounties,and by 2005 a full blown global operation was underway that included regular contact with MI-5 and Special Branch in London as well as the FBI in the United States. According to senior intelligence and law enforcement officials overseeing the case, while the arrest of 17 young men Friday may be the most significant part of the case, the investigation is ongoing. So far, these officials confirm, it has yielded leads and led to arrests in the U.S. and in London. Canadian authorities say they have been in almost daily contact with British and U.S. authorities. While these sources would not confirm specific targets, they continue to dismiss reports that the landmark CN tower or the Toronto subway system were among them. Without providing details, official sources confirm the involvement in London that has led to arrests. In a London terror trial that is ongoing, the alleged bomb maker was brought into the case by the RCMP, sources said.