A young Canadian of Egyptian origin acted as a mole to help authorities unravel an alleged al Qaeda-inspired plot to bomb buildings in downtown Toronto, CBC television said on Friday.CBC, in a report carried on its Web site and on its evening news program, said the young agricultural engineer was now part of a witness protection program. "He really felt, as a loyal Muslim Canadian, like he owed Canada something," a former associate told the program. "And it's not surprising to see that he did that for the cause of Canada."
| I'm surprised the CBC didn't run his name, photo and last known address. |
| CBC said the man, who is in his 20s, had helped police because he wanted to prevent a "civilian calamity." It said he was the second mole in the alleged plot. |
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested a group of Canadian Muslims in June and has charged them with a variety of terrorism-related offenses, including plotting to build a truck bomb larger than that used in the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995 and setting up a terrorist training camp. Police said the group, which included both adults and teenagers, had acquired three ton of what they believed was ammonium nitrate, as well as other bomb-making equipment. Some of the younger suspects have been granted bail, but others are in jail ahead of what is likely to be a long series of preliminary court hearings followed by a prolonged trial.
There have been no al Qaeda-inspired attacks in Canada, although security officials have frequently warned that Canada must not be complacent about the risk of an attack. Canada declined to join the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, but Canadian troops are fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, raising the country's profile in the Muslim world.