The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have apprehended a minor in Montreal regarding terrorism suspicions. According to an RCMP statement released on Friday, the investigation indicates that the “young man” was planning an attack directed at a school within the city.
Reports suggest that the individual utilized artificial intelligence in the potential orchestration of the assault and disseminated menacing messages on the messaging platform Telegram, targeting various groups such as Muslims, Haitians, and the 2SLGBTQ+ communities, as confirmed by RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Érique Gasse.
Sgt. Gasse mentioned, “We received tips from the FBI a few weeks ago about this individual’s attack plans.” The arrest of the individual took place at his residence on Friday morning as part of an inquiry conducted by the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, a collaborative effort aimed at tracking and thwarting criminal undertakings of terrorist entities or individuals posing a threat to Canada’s national security.
The ongoing investigation involves the individual’s interaction with investigators while additional personnel search his residence for electronic devices or any pertinent items related to the case. The police action was designed to disrupt the suspected activities of the individual and to pursue a peace bond for monitoring and de-escalation purposes.
Sgt. Gasse stated that the individual is scheduled to appear in youth court on Saturday morning, although the RCMP’s press release indicates that potential charges may be brought forth at a later date.