MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

Update: Today’s arrests were made following a multi-agency investigation involving the RCMP, CSIS, FBI, CBSA, OPP as well as local police in Ontario and Quebec. Authorities say Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, and Raed Jaser, 35 were plotting a large-scale al-Qaeda linked/inspired terror attack against a popular VIA passenger rail route between Toronto and New York City. Of course, such a route was not chosen because it serviced the fewest number of travelers, but rather because of the highest number of travelers they’d potentially kill for the glory of Allah …

By Greg Weston, CBC News – “Canadian police and intelligence agencies say they have arrested two men and thwarted a plot to carry out a major terrorist attack on a Via passenger train.

The two accused are Chiheb Esseghaier and Raed Jaser. They have been charged with conspiracy to carry out a terrorist attack and ‘conspiring to murder persons unknown for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a terrorist group.’

In a statement, RCMP said while they believe the individuals accused had the ‘capacity and intent’ to carry out an attack, they believed there was ‘no imminent threat’ to the public, rail employees, train passengers or infrastructure.

The two men are expected to appear in court tomorrow.

Highly placed sources tell CBC News the alleged plotters have been under surveillance for more than a year in Quebec and southern Ontario.

The investigation was part of a cross-border operation involving Canadian law enforcement agencies, the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

According to a Reuters report, U.S. law enforcement and national security sources said the alleged plot targeted a railroad between Toronto and New York City.

The arrests Monday morning were co-ordinated and executed by a special joint task force of RCMP and CSIS anti-terrorism units, combined with provincial and municipal police forces in Ontario and Quebec…

Law enforcement officials say the terror suspects arrested today have no connection to the two brothers accused of last week’s Boston Marathon bombings.

They also say there is no tie to the former London, Ont., high school friends who joined al-Qaeda and died earlier this year while helping to stage a bloody attack on an Algerian gas refinery.

Sources say the alleged plot disrupted by Monday’s arrests was potentially more dangerous than the bombings and hostage-takings planned by the so-called Toronto 18.” Read more.

Update: Authorities Thwart Islamic Terror Plot in Canada to Attack Railroad Between Toronto and NYC – “Authorities have reportedly prevented an al-Qaeda-supported terrorist attack that aimed to disrupt a major North American transportation route. Canadian law enforcement confirmed Monday afternoon that authorities thwarted an alleged terror plot in Canada that targeted a railroad that runs between Toronto, Ontario and New York City in the United States.” Read more.