Ottawa men charged with terrorism related offences appear in court

Three Ottawa men facing terrorism related charges were back in court today for a bail hearing.

Identical twins Ashton and Carlos Larmond appeared separately by video-link, more than one month after being arrested by the RCMP following what they call a national security criminal investigation.

Ashton Larmond, 24, arrested in Ottawa in early January, is charged with facilitating terrorist activity, participation in the activity of a terrorist group and instructing to carry out activity for a terrorist group.

His twin brother, Carlos, was arrested at Montreal’s Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport allegedly trying to board a plane. He is charged with attempting to leave Canada to participate in terrorist activity abroad, and participating in the activity of a terrorist group.

A family friend, 21-year-old Suliman Mohamed, also made a court appearance today. Police say Mohamed’s arrest was linked to that of the Larmond twins. Mohamed is charged with participating in the activities of a terrorist group and conspiracy to participate in a terrorist activity.

Mohamed’s father claims his son is innocent.

“He is not guilty at all,” Idris Althair, Mohamed’s father, told media after his son’s court appearance.

"We are optimistic that everything will be alright, hopefully," he added.

All three men will appear in court again on March 16, 2015.