Toronto man charged with terrorism-related offences linked to ISIS

A Toronto man is facing several terrorism-related charges linked to ISIS and other charges targeting women and members of the Jewish community, police say.

A Toronto man is facing a number of terrorism-related charges linked to ISIS alongside dozens of other criminal charges related to violent offences in the GTA that police say targeted women and members of the Jewish community.

The RCMP confirmed the arrest of the suspect in a news release issued on Friday morning, noting that the offences occurred between June 17 and Aug. 17 of this year.

They say that the suspect is facing seven terrorism-related offences, including allegations that he conspired to commit murder “for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a terrorist group.”

It is also alleged that the suspect made himself available “to facilitate or commit a terrorism offence or an act or omission outside Canada” and provided property, specifically social media accounts, while knowing “it would be used by or would benefit a terrorist group, namely ISIS.”

The suspect has been identified as 26-year-old Toronto resident Waleed Khan.

Moments after the RCMP confirmed Khan’s arrest on Friday morning, the Toronto Police Service and Peel Regional Police published their own news releases detailing the results of a joint separate investigation which they said predated the RCMP’s investigation.

Those offences included kidnapping, attempted kidnapping with firearms, conspiracy to commit sexual assault and hostage taking, police said.

Khan is among three suspects facing a combined 79 charges in that investigation.

He was initially taken into custody on Aug. 18 but only charged by the RCMP on Nov. 26,

The other accused parties in the joint investigation are Osman Azizov, 18 and Fahad Sadaat, 19. Those individuals, it should be noted, are not facing terrorism-related charges.

The local police investigation, dubbed ‘Project Neapolitan’ was launched after two violent incidents in the GTA last spring.

In the first incident on May 31, police say that a woman was approached by three men in the Don Mills Road and Rochefort Drive area. The suspects, one armed with a knife and another with a gun, attempted to force the woman into a vehicle but fled after being interrupted by a passing motorist, police say.

The second incident occurred on Ellesboro Drive near Swanhurst Boulevard in Mississauga on June 24.

In that incident, police say that three armed men exited a vehicle and chased two women but fled after being interrupted by a passerby.

Police say that officers eventually connected the two incidents and arrested the suspects.

Police seized a cache of contraband, including firearms, ammunition, high-capacity magazine, upon executing a search warrant at the Toronto residences of the suspect.

Following the arrests, police say that investigators “uncovered links to terrorism” which led to the “separate but parallel” investigation conducted by the RCMP.

“What began as armed, coordinated attempts to kidnap women led to significant arrests and charges, stopping a dangerous escalation of hate-motivated crimes and terrorism across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond,” Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said in the news release. “Thank you to our investigators and partners at the Toronto Police Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for their collaboration and tireless efforts to keep our communities safe.”

“This investigation demonstrates the impact of strong collaboration in protecting our communities,” Toronto Police Chief Chief Myron Demkiw added. “The gravity of these alleged offences demanded a strong, united response – and that is exactly what this partnership delivered. I want to thank our members and all of our partners for their tireless efforts and their shared commitment to public safety.”

‘A grave threat’

Toronto police tell CP24 that both Khan and Sadaat remain in custody. Azizov has been released on bail.

Toronto police say that Ontario Provincial Police, York Regional Police, Durham Regional Police Service, and FINTRAC assisted with the investigation.

In a statement on Friday morning, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs CEO Noah Shack said that the the details of the investigations “indicate a grave threat” that authorities must take seriously.

“It is alarming that multiple Islamic State-related terrorist plots have been uncovered over the past two years in Canada. This goes far beyond the safety of any one group. It is a matter of national security and public safety,” Shack said. “There is a ticking time bomb in our country that our leaders must confront before it’s too late.”

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also commented on the arrests in a post to social media in which she thanked police “for working swiftly to keep people safe.”

“Through their joint efforts, they have uncovered serious alleged criminal offenses and potential threats to public safety motivated by hate, particularly targeting women and the Jewish community. The RCMP investigation has resulted in terrorism-related charges. I thank these police services for their continued vigilance to keep us safe,” she said.