A father and son, who the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) says were planning a violent attack in Toronto, have been arrested on terrorism-related charges.
RCMP identified Ahmed Eldidi, 62, and Mostafa Eldidi, 26, in the July 28 arrest. The duo were located at a hotel in Richmond Hill, and were in the “advanced stages of planning a serious, violent attack in Toronto,” Asst. Comm. Matt Peggs said in a Wednesday morning media presser.
Before the men were arrested, police said they allegedly purchased an axe and a machete.
Each of the men have been charged with participation in the activities of a terrorist group, which RCMP confirmed was ISIS, as well as facilitating terrorist activity, possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, and conspiracy to commit murder.
Officials said an Integrated National Security Enforce Team (INSET) became aware of the threat in early July.
RCMP confirmed the duo are Toronto residents, but it’s not clear why they were at the Richmond Hill hotel.
As of now, it is not clear who the pair planned to target during the attack.
“We’re still trying to establish exactly who were the intended targets of this,” Parr said. “From what we have, we knew that there was a threat potentially to Toronto,” RCMP Superintendent James Parr explained at the press conference.
Ahmed Eldidi is also charged with committing an aggravated assault outside of Canada for the benefit of the Islamic State in June 2015.
Peggs assured that there is “no remaining risk to the public,” but further details could not be explained due to a publication ban.
“I am very proud of the impressive team effort that made these arrests possible. I also want to thank our law enforcement partners in the INSET group for their invaluable assistance,” Peggs said.
“The RCMP Federal Police take all threats to our national security very seriously. This was an imminent threat and we were able to prevent serious injuries or loss of life.”
