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Global News
14-07-2025
- Global News
Quebec terrorism suspects didn't get guns and ammo from us: Canadian Forces
The four Quebec City area men whom the RCMP arrested last week in relation to an alleged terrorism plot did not get their weapons, ammunition or explosives from the Canadian Armed Forces. The Canadian military made that statement early Monday morning, hours before the four suspects are scheduled to appear in Quebec court for their latest hearings. 'Of note, the weapons, ammunition, and explosives that were seized as part of the RCMP-led investigation that resulted in the arrests on July 8, 2025, did not originate from the Canadian Armed Forces,' the military statement said. 'The Military Police and the Canadian Army continue to support the ongoing investigation led by the RCMP and no further details can be released.' The CAF statement did not reveal where the men obtained their guns and ammunition. In a brief Quebec City court appearance Monday morning, a Crown prosecutor said the government would oppose bail for all four suspects. No reasons were given. A two-day bail hearing is now being scheduled in a non-public meeting in a judge's private chambers. Story continues below advertisement The RCMP arrested and charged four men last week in dawn operations. They included Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, of Quebec City; Simon Angers-Audet, 24, of Neuville and Raphaël Lagacé, 25, of Quebec City. 2:15 Canadian Armed Forces members charged in 'anti-government militia' plot in Quebec The RCMP's Integrated National Security Enforcement Team says three of the men, all from Quebec, took concrete actions to facilitate terrorist activity and are each facing one charge of facilitating terrorist activity. They face a maximum sentence of 14 years if found guilty. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy A fourth man — identified by RCMP as Matthew Forbes, 33, of Pont-Rouge — faces charges including possession of firearms, prohibited devices and explosives, and possession of controlled items. Other charges have also been laid for offences related to possession of prohibited devices, transfer of firearms and ammunition, careless storage of firearms, possession of explosives and possession of controlled items. Story continues below advertisement The RCMP says it conducted searches in January 2024 in Quebec City that led to the seizure of 16 explosive devices, 83 firearms and accessories, approximately 11,000 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, nearly 130 magazines, four pairs of night vision goggles and military equipment. The police said the men wanted to create their own militia and 'were allegedly involved in activities intending to forcibly take possession of land in the Québec City area,' and described the case as one of 'ideologically motivated violent extremism.' The three men took part in military-style training, police allege, as well as shooting, ambush, survival and navigation exercises. They also allegedly conducted a scouting operation. So far, the men have made no comments on the allegations. The military statement added that the four suspects have not been performing military duties and do not have unescorted access to the Quebec City-area Valcartier military base. 'At any time, should the integrity of a CAF member be called into question, various actions include restricting access to the base, weapons, and individuals' security clearances in addition to other administrative measures,' the Canadian Forces said, without elaborating.
Global News
09-07-2025
- Global News
RCMP arrests stun small towns near Quebec City where 2 suspects live
Two of the four suspects arrested near Quebec City and charged for allegedly plotting an armed attack have told people close to them that their troubles with the law are a big misunderstanding. The communities where two of the four suspects of an alleged terror plot lived are in disbelief following the RCMP's announcement of arrests that included two active members of Canada's armed forces. Residents of the two rural towns, Pont Rouge, Que. and Neuville, told Global News they were stunned by RCMP's tactical squad arrests amid allegations that anti-government militia members with caches of weapons and ammunition lived among them while secretly recruiting members on Instagram. The RCMP says searches it conducted in January 2024 in the Quebec City area led to the seizure of 16 explosive devices, 83 firearms and accessories, approximately 11,000 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, nearly 130 magazines, and four pairs of night vision goggles. Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen The RCMP said it seized these weapons and other military equipment during rainds in January 2024 that led to the arrests of four men in Quebec City this week. RCMP photo 'We are without words to describe what has happened,' said one local businessman who formerly employed one suspect, Simon Angers-Audet of Neuville, who asked not to be identified. The local businessman, who said he employed Simon Angers-Audet for 15 months, said the young man was smart, hardworking and never uttered any anti-government statements or advocated for violent extremism. Nor did he try to recruit anyone at work to join any armed extremist movement, he said. 'There was no hint about any crazy situation like this,' the businessman said. 'He had a good attitude, he worked hard and was well-spoken,' he said, speaking on the condition he was not identified. The RCMP said Tuesday that it charged three men with facilitating a terrorist activity in a plot to create an 'anti-government militia' in Quebec, and a fourth man was charged with multiple explosives and firearms charges, including weapons he allegedly acquired from the United States and France. Story continues below advertisement None of the charges have been proven in court and the men were ordered held in custody until July 14. Pont-Rouge and Neuville, where court documents suggest two of the four suspects live, are small, bucolic Quebec communities nestled along Quebec's Highway 40 about 45 km south of the provincial capital. The area features many machine shops that serve its prosperous-looking rolling farms and a growing population attracted to semi-rural life and cheaper home prices. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy One of the suspects, Cpl. Simon Angers-Audet, lives in Neuville with his father. When approached by Global News, the father said he was present this week when heavily-armed RCMP members arrived at their home at dawn and arrested his son at gunpoint. Audet wept as he described how police broke down a patio door, tossed stun grenades into the house and stormed the residence, taking his son away in handcuffs. They didn't even explain why, he said. Story continues below advertisement Audet added that his son served in the Canadian Forces reserves in Quebec City, called Les Voltigeurs, for more than two years. His son's job was to take care of, adjust and maintain all the unit's weapons, he said, and his day job was working at Latulipe, an outdoors sports shop that also sold rifles and guns. The store fired Angers-Audet after the RCMP raid, Audet said. His son was part of a young group of men that enjoyed being outdoors, camping and hiking, shooting guns, and pushing the limits of their physical strength, he said. They would train together carrying extra 50-pound weights and go into the woods for six or seven hours at a time. 'His objective was always to better perform in the army. They are not against the army,' Audet added. Philippe Audet, father of Quebec City area terror suspect Simon Angers-Audet, talked to Global News after his son's arrest. Touria Izri / Global News Audet suggested police may have misunderstood and misconstrued the actions of his son and his group of friends, adding that his son 'wouldn't hurt a fly.' He added that his son and his young friends help people in the community. Story continues below advertisement The father alleged his son's group was 'infiltrated' by a strange, much older man, about 47 years old, that came all the way from New Brunswick to join his son's group and stayed at his home. 'We wondered what he was doing here,' Audet added. Another of the arrested suspects, Cpl. Matthew Forbes, 33, lives just down the road in Pont-Rouge. Most of the neighbours on his quiet, tree-lined street did not come to the door. But one resident told Global News that Forbes' home was raided by the RCMP on Jan. 10, 2024, and there was a huge police presence in the area at the time, and again Tuesday when he was also arrested on the quiet street at dawn. Those events left him anxious. When he asked Forbes about the 2024 raid, Forbes tried to reassure him by saying it was all a misunderstanding, the resident said, asking not to be identified. After that exchange, the man said he didn't have or want any further dealings with Forbes. Questions about military training photo On Tuesday, the RCMP released to the media a photo which showed seven people dressed in combat gear, seemingly in formation, and brandishing weapons in a rock quarry. Story continues below advertisement The RCMP on Wednesday declined to identify the quarry's location. View image in full screen A photo provided by RCMP shows individuals standing in a large open area wearing military gear and holding what appear to be firearms. Credit: RCMP When asked about why seven people appeared in the photo but only four people were charged following its investigation, an RCMP spokesman, Cpl. Erique Gasse, replied by email: 'We know that, because of the Instagram account, there are more people who are interested in that ideology, and who took part in military-style training. The RCMP does not investigate movements or ideologies. It investigates only the criminal activities of individuals who threaten the safety of Canadians,' Cpl. Gasse said. 'Viewing ideological content or having extremist thoughts is not a crime in Canada. It becomes a threat when individuals advocate or use violence to promote or advance their ideology,' Cpl. Gasse added.
UPI
09-07-2025
- UPI
Canada arrests four accused of forming anti-gov't militia
Canadian authorities seized dozens of firearms during a January 2024 search in Quebec City, which was part of an investigation that led to the arrests of four men on Tuesday. Photo courtesy RCMP/ Release July 9 (UPI) -- Canadian authorities have arrested four men, including active military members, on accusations of forming an anti-government militia that sought to seize land in Quebec City. No information about motive or ideology was released by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police when it announced the arrests in a statement Tuesday. Three of the suspects -- Marc-Aurele Chabot, 24, Simon Angers-Audet, 24, and Raphael Lagace -- are accused of taking "concerte actions to facilitate terrorist activity," a charge punishable with up to 14 years in prison. According to the RCMP, Chabot, Angers-Audet and Lagace have been accused of planning to create an anti-government militia, for which they participated in military-style training, including shooting, ambush, survival and navigation exercises, involving firearms, some of which are banned. A fourth suspect, Matthew Forbes, 33, faces a slew of charges, including possession of firearms, prohibited devices and explosives and related offenses. All four men are from the province of Quebec. The arrests follow searches conducted in Quebec City in January 2024 that uncovered 16 explosive devices, 11,000 rounds of ammunition, nearly 130 magazines and 83 firearms and accessories. Four pairs of night vision goggles and other military equipment were also seized. Images released by the RCMP include a screenshot of an Instagram account that Canadian authorities said one of the suspect's alleged used to recruit new members. Other released photos included several displaying the large cache of firearms seized and one of the men in tactical gear appearing to be undergoing training. The Canadian Armed Forces confirmed in a statement that two active military members were among the four arrested and charged. RCMP Staff Sgt. Camille Habel told CBC News that their investigation into the men dates back to the spring of 2023, but that the militant group dates back to at least 2021. Without going into specifics concerning what the group's intention was with the Quebec City land they intended to seize, Habel said, "in that ideology in general, quite often we would see a desire to create a new society, a desire to live by different values and wanting to change or create some kind of chaos so that they could take over society to created it and live it the way that they want." She added that they know more than just the four people arrested are interested in this unspecified ideology, which, she said, "is an issue in Canada right now." "It is not a case that will fix the problem," she said. "It is really a societal problem."
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First Post
09-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Canada: Police say foiled 'anti-government militia' plot in Quebec, seized weapons cache
Police in Canada have arrested four men, including two active soldiers, accusing them of plotting to form an anti-government militia and seize land in Quebec. Authorities say the group had stockpiled a large cache of weapons and explosives. read more Police in Canada have arrested four men—including two active military members—who are accused of plotting to form an anti-government militia and seize land in Quebec, according to a report from The Guardian. Authorities say the men were gathering weapons and military gear, marking the largest weapons stash ever uncovered in a Canadian terrorism investigation. On Tuesday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) charged Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, from Quebec City; Simon Angers-Audet, 24, from Neuville; and Raphaël Lagacé, 25, also from Quebec City. Police allege they were planning terrorist activities, including creating a militia, conducting military-style training, shooting, ambush exercises, survival skills, and scouting missions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A fourth man, Matthew Forbes, 33, from Pont-Rouge, was charged with possessing firearms, banned devices, and explosives. None of the men have entered pleas yet. The RCMP said searches in Quebec in January 2024 uncovered 16 explosive devices, 83 firearms, 11,000 rounds of ammunition, and other military equipment—about 18 months before the arrests were made. The investigation involved the RCMP's national security team and local police. More from World Trump says he will release new tariff letters for 7 more countries on Wednesday So far, police have not shared details about the group's exact motives or any specific targets for their plan to seize land near Quebec City. The RCMP released photos showing handguns, assault rifles, tactical vests, and ammunition seized during the investigation. 'This is by far the largest collection of weapons and explosives ever found in a terrorist case in Canada,' said Jessica Davis, a former intelligence analyst and president of the consultancy Insight Threat Intelligence. She added that the size of the weapons cache is significant even compared to plots disrupted in other Nato countries. Police also shared images from one suspect's social media accounts, suggesting efforts to recruit others to join the militia. Davis explained that in the past two decades, most terror plots in Canada have involved ideologically motivated violence, rather than groups like al-Qaida or Islamic State. 'We're talking about anti-Muslim extremists, 'Incel' groups, or anti-government movements,' she said. 'People often think of Islamic State, but the real problem in Canada has often been other types of extremism.' The four men were set to appear in a Quebec court on Tuesday. The charges have not yet been proven in court. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Edmonton Journal
08-07-2025
- Edmonton Journal
Canadian soldiers charged in alleged anti-government terror plot
Article content Active members of the Canadian Armed Forces are among four people facing terrorism charges in Quebec for allegedly plotting an anti-government militia. Article content At least three of the four are accused of taking 'concrete actions to facilitate terrorist activity,' including a plot 'to forcibly take possession of land in the Québec City area,' according to the RCMP. The alleged target was not specified. Article content Article content Article content 'They took part in military-style training, as well as shooting, ambush, survival, and navigation exercises. They also conducted a scouting operation. A variety of firearms, some prohibited, as well as high-capacity magazines and tactical equipment were allegedly used in these activities,' the RCMP said in a written release Tuesday morning. Article content Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, of Québec City, Simon Angers-Audet, 24, of Neuville and Raphaël Lagacé, 25, of Québec City, face a charge of knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity, with a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. Article content Matthew Forbes, 33, of Pont-Rouge, faces charges including possession of firearms, prohibited devices and explosives, and possession of controlled items. Article content Article content The RCMP deems it a case of ideologically motivated violent extremism. Article content The investigation has stretched more than a year and includes searches in the Quebec City area in January 2024 in which 16 explosive devices, 83 firearms and accessories, about 11,000 rounds of ammunition, nearly 130 magazines, four pairs of night vision goggles and military equipment were seized, the RCMP said. Among the weapons seized were military-style assault rifles. Article content Article content Photos released by the RCMP show a group of seven people in military camouflage armed with rifles in an apparent shooting and tactics training exercise in what looks like a rock quarry. Article content One of the accused allegedly created and administered an Instagram account to recruit new members to the anti-government militia. The Instagram account featured photos of people in combat fatigues and guns outdoors, some of the scenes are in winter, surrounded by snow, others in summer or fall in woods, and at least one appears to be inside a vehicle. Article content Article content Other charges against the accused in this case include the possession of prohibited devices, transfer of firearms and ammunition, careless storage of firearms, possession of explosives and possession of controlled items. Article content The investigation was led by the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET), considered a top-tier response to fighting domestic extremism and terrorism. INSET units are led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police but are made up of officers from multiple law enforcement agencies who are specially trained.
