This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/1978

Terror plotters in Mississauga : Included School bus driver - men from 'well established professional' families

Terror probe started via internet surfing and emails
June 7, 2006

THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS Six suspects attended Meadowvale mosque

http://www.mississauga.com/mi/news/story/3529161p-4078222c.html
The Mississauga News Jun 4, 2006


Six of the 17 people arrested Friday night in a stunning counterterrorism sweep attended a storefront mosque in Meadowvale.

The Ar Rahman mosque is one of the few clear links connecting the suspects. At a prayer meeting today, mosque members said six fellow worshipers have been arrested, including 43-year-old Qayyum Abdul Jamal. He is described as an active member of the mosque who often delivers fiery speeches and holds sway with the younger members.

According to The Toroto Star, Jamal drives a school bus. He is married with four children.

"He spent a lot of time with youth," said Faheem Bukhari, a director of the Mississauga Muslim Community Centre who attends prayers at the Ar Rahman mosque.

He said Jamal never openly embraced violence, but was "very vocal and ... could incite these young kids for jihad."

Anser Farooq, the lawyer representing Jamal, said his client is "one of about a half-dozen people who lead prayers at the mosque" and was not part of any conspiracy.

Imam Qamrul Khanson said Jamal's Friday night prayers were aggressive, but there was no talk of terrorism.

Sources say Internet surfing and e-mails among the suspects led to the start of the probe in 2004.

Rocco Galati, a lawyer for two of the men from Mississauga, said "their families are very well-established professionals (with) no criminal pasts whatsoever."

He described Ahmad Ghany, 21, as a Canadian-born graduate of McMaster University whose physician father emigrated from Trinidad and Tobago in 1955.

His other client, Shareef Abdelhaleen, 30, is an unmarried computer programmer who emigrated from Egypt at age 10 with his father.

Other Mississauga residents charged in the raids included: Asad Ansari, 21, of Rosehurst Dr., Saad Khalid, 19, of Eclipse Ave. and Zakaria Amara, 20, of Periwinkle Cres. in Meadowvale.

The RCMP said yesterday that a group of men "took steps to acquire" three tons of ammonium nitrate and bomb-making electronic components.

The Toronto Star reports that the RCMP delivered three tons of potential bomb-making material to a group that authorities said wanted to launch a string of attacks inspired by al-Qaida.

The Star said the sting unfolded when investigators delivered the ammonium nitrate to the group of Muslim Canadians, then moved in quickly on what officials called a homegrown terror ring.

Authorities have refused to provide any details of the alleged plot but they have said they believed that the group represented "a real and serious threat."

The Globe and Mail reported today on its website that the alleged conspiracy dated back to March of 2005 and that men and youths in the group might have undergone training at sites in Fort Erie and in Barrie.

This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/1978