Ottawa reviewing security screening timeline in case of terror plot suspects, minister says
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The federal government says it’s reviewing its security screening process as questions multiply about how a father and son accused of planning an attack in Toronto were allowed to immigrate to Canada.
Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi, 62, and his son Mostafa Eldidi, 26, were arrested late last month. They face a host of charges, including conspiracy to commit murder for the benefit or at the direction of a terrorist group — namely ISIS, a Sunni Muslim militant organization.
Police say the father has Canadian citizenship, while the son does not.
Global News reported over the weekend that the elder Eldidi had taken part in an assault shown in a video released by ISIS before he immigrated to Canada. Global’s report cites anonymous sources. CBC News hasn’t verified the existence of the video.
A charge sheet does allege that Ahmad Fouad Mostafa Eldidi committed an aggravated assault for the benefit of the Islamic State in 2015 somewhere outside Canada, but doesn’t offer further details.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is conducting internal reviews to determine what was known about the Toronto terror suspects’ alleged ties to ISIS and when the information came to light. LeBlanc also commended the RCMP, saying they may have prevented a violent incident.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said officials are working on a timeline of events.
“Obviously, the internal reviews in terms of the security screening process with the department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship [Canada] are ongoing,” he said during a child care announcement in Moncton, N.B.
“There have been some public allegations around certain information. It might be interesting to know when that information came to light and when that information was in the hands of which decision maker.”
His comments follow a push from opposition parties for the House public safety committee to investigate the case.
Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer told reporters Tuesday his party has questions about the immigration screening process for both men.
“For Canadians to have confidence in our immigration system, we need to know that in every case, in every application, the due diligence and proper screening is done. Clearly that was not done in this situation and lives were almost lost,” he said.
NDP public safety critic Alistair MacGregor said Wednesday he supports the proposal to get the committee to look into the case.
“Reports of a terrorism plot in Ontario, thankfully thwarted by the RCMP, have Canadians anxious that a community was narrowly saved from a potentially deadly attack, and rightfully upset that a man with alleged links to a foreign terrorist group was not only allowed to enter Canada but given Canadian citizenship,” he said in a media statement.
Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer is calling on the Bloc Québécois and NDP to support a committee recall to investigate the alleged father-son Toronto terror plot. Scheer says the Trudeau government owes Canadians answers on how the duo — who were charged with conspiracy to commit murder for the benefit or at the direction of a terrorist group — were allowed into the country.
LeBlanc urged caution in discussing an ongoing court case.
“It’s important not to oversimplify these issues. It’s important to have precise facts, but it’s also important to be prudent when talking about those facts while you have an active, serious criminal case before the courts,” he said.
LeBlanc went on to praise the RCMP and security officials for thwarting a possible violent incident.
Scheer has said he’s not worried about a committee probe interfering with a court proceedings and insisted MPs would focus on concerns about Canada’s immigration system.
“For Canadians to find out that their own government let in someone associated with ISIS and granted them citizenship, it’s entirely appropriate for the government to answer for that,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said the organization can’t comment on individual cases.
“What we can tell you is that security screening of foreign nationals is a joint collaboration between Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), CSIS and the CBSA,” said Luke Reimer in an email.
“CBSA screening decisions are based on the information available at a moment in time.”
Suspects made a brief court appearance
The father and son were arrested on July 28 in a hotel room in Richmond Hill, Ont., after a month-long investigation that involved multiple police services, RCMP say.
RCMP Supt. James Parr said the alleged attack was going to target Toronto, although the exact nature of the threat falls under a publication ban. Parr said there is no ongoing threat to residents of the city.
The pair also face weapons charges related to possession of an axe and a machete. Police say they had the weapons with them at the hotel when they were arrested.
The two accused made a brief court appearance Wednesday and are scheduled to appear next week.
