Youth facing terrorism charges following arrest by RCMP officers in the GTA

The RCMP logo is seen outside the force's "E" division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., Thursday, March 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

A youth is facing charges related to alleged ISIS propaganda videos following an ongoing investigation into “terrorism related offences,” the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) says.

In a news release, the RCMP said its officers from the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) in the Greater Toronto Area arrested the youth on Nov. 4.

They are charged with participating in the activities of a terrorist group by the editing and public posting of ISIS propaganda videos and inviting a person to provide property, i.e., firearms, intending that they be used, in whole or in part, for the purpose of facilitating or carrying out a terrorist activity.

The charges have not been tested in court.

The accused cannot be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Police have also not indicated where exactly the arrest occurred and have shared very little about the investigation itself.

This arrest, said Supt. James Parr, the officer-in-charge of federal policing for the Central Region INSET, is the “result of a coordinated effort with domestic and international partners and demonstrates the RCMP’s commitment to public safety by disrupting threats to Canada’s national security.”

The RCMP said that the New York Police Department (NYPD), Peel Regional Police, Toronto Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Public Prosecution Service of Canada, and the Ministry of the Attorney General assisted with the investigation.

“The national security team in the Toronto area, GTA/SW INSET, gathered evidence that indicated a potentially dangerous threat and took action to keep Canadians safe,” the force said in a release.

NYPD’s Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch added in a news release that public safety knows no border and international terrorism serves no other purpose than to “sow chaos and fear.”

“The New York City Police Department will confront this threat whenever and wherever it presents itself, and we were proud to partner with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and others to uncover this dangerous plot and keep people safe,” she said.

“Thank you to all the investigators who worked on this case, and who continue to set the standard in counterterrorism, intelligence, and national security operations.”

Police say no threats to safety

In an email to CP24, Cpl. Christy Veenstra, of the RCMP’s Central Region, assured there are no threats to public safety.

“Working closely with several law enforcement agencies, the RCMP acted swiftly to protect Canadians while ensuring transparency and accountability through the sharing of appropriate information,” she wrote.

“However, as the accused is a young person and the court proceedings are subject to a publication ban, the RCMP is limited in the details we can provide at this time. We will continue to update the public as we are able.”

The RCMP did not respond to CP24’s request to provide the age and gender of the accused or where they are from.

We also asked for further details about the arrest, including where it took place, as well as more clarity on investigation, including where the threat had occurred.

Police would also not confirm if they’ve made any previous arrests in connection with this case.