Testimony Of Informant At Canada Terror Trial

Source Article HERE.

From 'International Herald Tribune': The leader of an alleged terrorist plot apparently planned to use a troubled young man to carry out potential suicidal attacks in Canada, such as attacking high-profile government buildings and members of Parliament, a police informant testified on Wednesday. In the second day of testimony by Mubin Shaikh, he told the court about a 12-day military-style training camp north of Toronto in December 2005 that he attended with the accused and other members of the alleged plot, where there was 'discussion of martyrdom'. "Some of them did think in the context of some kind of attack where they get killed," Shaikh said of the trainees. Shaikh said the group's alleged leader later told him privately his plan was to "exploit" the accused youth "in such a way."

The 20-year-old, who cannot be named because he was a youth offender at the time of his arrest, was one of 18 people arrested in 2006 as part of a purported plot to take hostages in Parliament, set off bombs in Toronto and Ottawa, and possibly behead Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Authorities say he attended a training camp where he participated in military exercises and firearms training. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in and contributing to the activity of a terrorist group. Shaikh described the accused, the first of the defendants to go to trial, as an "enthusiastic" participant at the camp. "He did what he was told to do, and he did it well," Shaikh told Ontario Superior Court Justice John Sproat.

Shaikh said those attending the camp in the dead of winter in December 2005 were expected to maintain spartan, military-like discipline, but would sometimes visit a nearby restaurant for hot chocolate. The court also saw a video that teaches the attendees how to use a gun safely. The video, with music playing in the background, was intended as both a training and propaganda tool, the prosecution alleges. "It's basically a call to arms," Shaikh said of the song. "The melody is sweet. The message is poison."

He said during a car trip a few weeks after the camp, the group's leader discussed "Operation Badr," a proposed mission to attack Parliament buildings, take government officials hostage and behead them. Shaikh testified that the group's leader consistently pushed his ideology. "We're not officially al-Qaida, but we share their principles," Shaikh cited him as saying. Shaikh said the leader was angry at Canada's intervention in Afghanistan and said that by aligning itself with the United States, Canada had become "the enemy." Shaikh said, "Once he determines Canada to be an enemy, anything goes."

Of the initial 18 people arrested by authorities, 11 people still face charges: ten adult suspects and the then-underage defendant currently being tried. Authorities dropped charges against seven of the suspects since their arrests.