The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have apprehended a juvenile in Montreal linked to terrorism accusations. As per an RCMP news release on Friday, the RCMP disclosed that the “young man” was allegedly scheming an assault directed towards a school in the city. The individual is accused of utilizing artificial intelligence in the planning stages of the potential attack and of disseminating menacing messages on the platform Telegram, targeting diverse groups such as Muslims, Haitians, and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, as per RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Érique Gasse.
Gasse mentioned, “It’s tips we received from the FBI a couple of weeks ago stating that this individual was plotting an attack.” The arrest of the individual took place at his residence on Friday morning within the framework of an investigation carried out by the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team. These teams comprise multiple agencies that monitor and disrupt criminal activities of terrorist entities or individuals posing a threat to Canada’s national security.
The individual is currently undergoing interrogation while other investigators are scouring his residence for electronic gadgets or any items pertinent to the investigation. The police operation was devised to impede the suspected activities of the individual and to secure a peace bond for monitoring and de-escalation interventions, as stated in the news release. Gasse mentioned that the individual is scheduled to appear in youth court on Saturday morning, with the possibility of facing charges at a later stage.