Police arrested a 36-year-old man Sunday on terrorism-related charges, after he flew from Tunisia to Montreal’s Trudeau airport.
Provincial police said that Nejib Belhaj-Chtioui, who was the subject of an outstanding warrant, was arrested Sunday evening for allegedly making statements and committing acts that could encourage terrorist activities.
Belhaj-Chtioui will face charges related to the terrorism hoax section of the Criminal Code, specifically: conveying information and committing an act to cause reasonable concern that it is connected to a terrorist activity. The investigation was led by a provincial police unit that investigates extremist threats.
The investigation dates back to 2011, when police were alerted to a Facebook post by Belhaj-Chtioui. Police wouldn’t say Monday what he allegedly wrote.
The warrant for his arrest was issued in 2013 and it is believed he has been out of the country since, the crown prosecutor said Monday.
Belhaj-Chtioui is expected to have a bail hearing on Tuesday, after the prosecutor objected to his release on Monday.
The arrest comes one day after the release of a purported new Islamic State propaganda video featuring a Canadian man named John Maguire, who threatens “punishment” against Canadians on their own soil.
Security officials believe that more than 140 Canadians have left the country to fight overseas. The RCMP has said the government is aware of approximately 80 Canadians who travelled abroad to support terror-related activities, and have since returned to Canada.
With files from CTV Montreal and The Canadian Press
