TORONTO — Canadian police have arrested a Toronto -area teenager on terror charges, bringing to 18 the number of men accused of taking part in an al Qaeda-inspired plot to attack Canadian targets, a police spokeswoman said on Friday.
Ibrahim Alkhalel Mohammed Aboud, 19, is accused of knowingly participating in a terrorist organization, and with attending a terrorism training camp north of Toronto that police allege some of the suspects took part in.
He was arrested on Thursday in Mississauga, a mid-sized suburban city just west of Toronto .
Most of the suspects were arrested in a police sting in early June, after allegedly attempting to purchase three tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which can be mixed with fuel oil to form a powerful explosive.
Some have been charged with intent to cause an explosion, while others face charges ranging from knowingly participating in a terrorist organization to providing terrorism training.
"It's an ongoing investigation and enough evidence was gathered for us to lay charges against Mr. Aboud," Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokeswoman Judy Laurence said when asked about the delay from the initial arrests.
"At this time I can't say that you can expect more arrests, but I can say that the investigation is still ongoing."
Since the initial arrests, three suspects have been released on bail, while four have been denied bail.
The arrests represent the first real test of Canada 's Anti-Terrorism Act, which was introduced in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington. It gives authorities power to make preventive arrests of suspects.
A wide-ranging publication ban prevents reporting of testimony given at the pre-trial court hearings.
But media leaks and comments from lawyers given outside court suggest the group is accused of discussing bomb attacks on various economic and security targets, while at least one allegedly talked of storming Parliament and taking legislators hostage to try to force the government to withdraw Canadian troops from Afghanistan.
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