The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has apprehended a minor in Montreal over suspected terrorism-related activities. According to an official statement released on Friday, the RCMP revealed that the individual, described as a “young man,” was allegedly planning an attack directed at a school within the city.
Authorities claim that the suspect utilized artificial intelligence during the potential attack planning and posted threatening messages on the messaging platform Telegram, targeting various communities such as Muslims, Haitians, and the 2SLGBTQ+ groups. RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Érique Gasse mentioned that the FBI provided information a couple of weeks ago alerting them to the individual’s attack plans.
The arrest took place at the suspect’s residence on Friday morning as part of an investigation conducted by the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, a collaborative effort by multiple agencies to monitor and disrupt criminal activities related to terrorism that pose a threat to Canada’s national security.
The individual is currently being questioned by investigators, with a search underway at his residence for electronic devices and other items relevant to the investigation. The police operation aimed to thwart the suspect’s suspected activities and potentially secure a peace bond for monitoring and de-escalation purposes. Gasse confirmed that the individual is scheduled to appear in youth court on Saturday morning, with the possibility of facing charges at a later date.