
RCMP arrest minor in Montreal on terror-related charges
Police arrested the young male in the city's Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough around 1:30 p.m.
Cpl. Érique Gasse said the youth had pledged allegiance to Islamic State and investigators believe he was ready to carry out at least one attack on behalf of the terrorist group.
'He made those comments on social media stating that he wished to attack various groups of people,' Gasse said in an interview.
Gasse said in an interview the youth allegedly intended to acquire weapons such as AK-47s for the attack.
The investigation began last April and Gasse said the public was never in danger.
The accused is scheduled to appear in youth court on Thursday on three counts: providing or making available property or services for terrorist purposes; participation in the activity of a terrorist group; and facilitating a terrorist activity.
The investigation was handled by the force's Integrated National Security Enforcement Team. Nearly 40 officers were involved in the arrest along with the force's emergency response team.
Authorities did not release the minor's age. Police were on site at a four-storey apartment building on Wednesday afternoon, conducting a search.
The arrest itself took place without incident, police said.
A federal Crown prosecutor has been assigned to the case, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada confirmed.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2025.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Calgary Herald
30 minutes ago
- Calgary Herald
Suspect arrested in Airdrie catch a predator case to remain behind bars for at least another week
Article content The Calgary resident charged by Mounties after he was targeted by a group of Airdrie youths in a catch-a-predator scheme will remain behind bars for at least another week. Article content Duty counsel Janice Taylor appeared in Airdrie Court of Justice on Thursday on behalf of Zain Alnoor Merchant and asked that his case be adjourned to next Thursday. Article content Article content 'I've spoken with Mr. Merchant. I'm prepared to waive reading of the charges on his behalf,' Taylor said, asking Justice Sheri Epp to excuse his attendance for the brief proceeding. Article content Article content 'He's in custody at the Calgary Remand Centre awaiting a show cause hearing,' Taylor said, or Merchant's intention to seek bail on the charges he faces. Article content Article content 'He'll remain in custody and he'll consent to remain in custody until the next court date which I'm suggesting should be … next Thursday in Airdrie by CCTV.' Article content Crown prosecutor Stephanie Rodgers asked Epp to impose a publication ban on any information that could identify the alleged victim in the case. Article content Merchant, 37, faces charges of abducting a person under 14, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, kidnapping, forcible confinement, flight from a peace officer and three counts of breaching prior court prohibition orders, two for contacting a minor and one for accessing the Internet. Article content He was arrested Monday after Airdrie RCMP responded to a report of a child abduction involving a 12-year-old boy. Article content Article content Police said the youth escaped from a vehicle when it stopped at a red light and called 911. Article content A short time later police located a suspect vehicle and attempted a traffic stop but the driver fled southbound on Highway 2, an RCMP news release said. Article content The Mounties engaged the assistance of the Calgary Police Service and with the help of the HAWCS helicopter a suspect vehicle was located at a northeast city residence and an arrest was made a short time later, the RCMP release said. Article content Their investigation determined at least 10 Airdrie youth were involved in a 'catch-a-predator' vigilante plot that went awry, police said. Article content Airdrie RCMP Cpl. Christopher Hrynyk said he's not been involved with an investigation like this in 23 years of service. Article content 'We're more concerned for their safety, their health, and well-being,' Hrynyk said of the group of youths. Article content


CBC
31 minutes ago
- CBC
Military member charged with terrorism warned of 'another Waco': court docs
One of the heavily armed Canadian Armed Forces members now charged with terrorism allegedly spoke openly about his will to use violence against government authorities and warned about another Waco massacre, according to recently unsealed court documents. Last month the RCMP charged four Quebec men, all with military ties, for allegedly planning an ideologically motivated violent plot "intending to forcibly take possession of land in the Quebec City area." Alongside weapons charges, three of them — Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, Simon Angers-Audet, 24, and Raphaël Lagacé, 25, — have been charged with the serious offence of facilitating a terrorist activity. A fourth individual, Matthew Forbes, 33, faces charges including possession of firearms, prohibited devices and explosives and possession of controlled items. The Canadian Armed Forces confirmed Forbes and Chabot are serving members, both based at CFB Valcartier. Angers-Audet is a former CAF member and Lagacé was a civilian instructor with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. According to court documents, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service notified police in March 2023 about an Instagram account called hide_n_stalk and a possible national security threat. That tipped off a years-long investigation known as Project Supion into an alleged well outfitted anti-government accelerationist group with growing members. (According to CSIS, accelerationists advocate for the violent destruction of society.) The details are found in January 2024 information to obtain (ITO) requests, documents filed by police seeking a judge's authorization to obtain a search warrant. The documents provide a snapshot of where the investigation was at the time it was filed. CBC/Radio-Canada and other media outlets fought for the documents to be made public and were successful Thursday afternoon. The documents present Royal 22e Regiment member Chabot as the de facto leader who was trying to create a community opposed to what he saw as government overreach — and defend it by force if needed. According to the documents, police allege Chabot was a guest on the podcast Modern Canadian Shooter and espoused comments that could be interpreted as accelerationist. The June 14, 2023, episode is no longer available on Spotify, but according to a transcript of the interview cited in the ITO, Chabot spoke of building an anti-government community. "That's why building a community is important 'cuz you cannot trust those bastards. I've seen how government works and I don't want to have more of it," he's accused of saying. "We got to come together and I'm not going (sic) do that half ass and just say we are gonna shoot them when they come in." Chabot is quoted as deeply opposed to the Liberal government's gun control law, known as Bill C-21. He also didn't appear to have any faith in the federal Conservative Party. "I still don't think there's a political solution," he's accused of saying. "[Conservative Leader Pierre] Poilievre is always bought by the same people." "That's why you need to be reliant on yourself, have a community that backs you. So whatever the f--k they try to pull, trying coming after dudes that prepared, are tight, run their shit well, you can't," Chabot allegedly said. "It's gonna be another Waco." That's most likely a reference to the deadly 51-day standoff between the fringe Branch Davidian religious group and U.S. federal agents near Waco, Texas, in 1993. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms launched its raid because it suspected the group was illegally stockpiling weapons. It ended in flames and gunfire with more than 80 people dead, including four federal agents and at least 20 children. Police allege Chabot was the main user behind hide_n_stalk and wore the patch HN1 during the group's training exercises. Other members also donned HN patches with their corresponding numbers, according to the ITO. RCMP investigators would go on to describe them as a pro-gun, extremist militant group. Posts from the Instragram account cited by the RCMP show a member showing the OK sign, which investigators suggest is a white power symbol. It was used by the shooter in the 2019 mosque tragedy in Christchurch, New Zealand. Investigators allege the group bought thousands of dollars worth of firearms and supplies. Documents detail years of surveillance According to the documents, the four men were under intense police surveillance since early 2023, including aerial and GPS tracking. In May 2023, 17 people identified as members of the hide_n_stalk group were observed doing military-like training with longuns in the ZEC Batiscan-Neilson, a controlled wilderness area near Quebec City. Police later searched the site and found bullet casings. According to analysis of video taken of the training offered at the ZEC, it follows the format offered by the Canadian Armed Forces. The analysis said it's clear the training given to the group was from a military-trained person. It notes the techniques being taught were basic, suggesting the trainers had little experience with them. In July 2023, RCMP officers infiltrated a training camp offered by a company police say Lagacé was affiliated with. According to the documents, it was a training ground to prepare for a possible invasion. The documents say attendees were woken up in the middle of the night and trained how to cut throats and shoot people in the head. Later that summer, CSIS learned about another training camp, this one near a residence in Rolphton, Ont., according to the document. It alleges Chabot and Anger-Audet were spotted there. Police surveillance suggests on Sept. 11, 2023, another training session was held at a quarry owned by Lagacé's family with about 10 individuals, including the four accused. Undercover officer met with Forbes In 2023 an RCMP informant also provided anonymous information that Forbes was in possession of weapons and involved in arms trafficking. The ITO said in September 2023 an undercover officer sought night-vision goggles from Forbes. When they met up for the transaction, the undercover officer said Forbes asked if the reason for the goggles was to "get ready when the shit hits the fan." The RCMP's investigation appears to have sped up in January 2024. Early in the new year, Lagacé's ex-partner called 911, warning that he was in possesion of illegal weapons and had made suicidal comments, according to the documents. Quebec City police responded and discovered more than 50 firearms and boxes of ammunition. A few days later the RCMP filed its ITOs and executed searches as part of Project Supion. In the end it seized 16 explosive devices, 83 firearms and accessories, approximately 11,000 rounds of ammunition of various calibres and nearly 130 magazines. None of the allegations against the four have been tested in court. Angers-Audet, Lagacé and Chabot have been denied bail while they wait for their trial. Forbes has been granted bail under a lengthy list of conditions that includes wearing a GPS tracking bracelet. Their next court date is scheduled for September.

CBC
31 minutes ago
- CBC
Man, 77, found dead after boat capsized in Lake Winnipeg on Wednesday
A 77-year-old Winnipeg man was found dead on Wednesday, less than two hours after a capsized boat was discovered in Lake Winnipeg, police say. RCMP received a report about the capsized boat in the lake, about two kilometres northwest of the Balsam Harbour Marina on the southeastern shore, shortly after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, police said in a news release. Shortly before 6 p.m., members of the East Beaches Fire Department found the body of the 77-year-old Winnipeg man who had operated the boat, just a short distance away from the vessel. The man was pronounced dead, police said. He was still wearing a life-jacket. The RCMP investigation into the man's death continues.