Canada’s Little Jihad Problem

Does Canada have a jihad problem? It could be, as Royal Canadian Mounties arrested a local Canuck on terrorism charges brought in the US and a new report emerged about a dozen Canadians Muslim converts training in an al-Qaeda camp in Pakistan.

Faruq Khalil Muhammad ‘Isa was arrested on charges of conspiring to kill Americans abroad in Iraq and with providing material support for an international terror ring. As part of a multinational terror network, he was responsible for aiding Tunisian suicide bombers being sent to Iraq, with practical matters like reminding them to delete personal information and cover their tracks before traveling to fight. ‘Isa also expressed his desire to conduct a suicide mission to the Iraq-based leader of the terror network, and instructed a family member in Iraq to “Go learn about weapons and go attack the police and Americans. Let it be that you die.”

In addition, the Asian Times Online is reporting that a dozen Canadian Muslim converts are in Pakistan and Afghanistan “receiving jihadi training in al-Qaeda camps in North Waziristan for terror attacks in Canada.”

“In Afghanistan they received basic jihadi training, while currently they are busy doing some special courses. Their main learning is how to use sophisticated weapons, and how to connect with local smuggling networks in North America,” Arif Wazir, a local militant of Darpakhel in North Waziristan told Asia Times Online. “They are also learning how to use ordinary material like sugar and basic chemicals to make powerful explosives. These militants will then return to their country to execute al-Qaeda’s plan of targeting big cities in Canada.”