Conspiracy to commit terrorist acts in and against Canada
2013 Via Rail Canada terrorism plot
Courtroom sketch of Raed Jaser being arraigned on special terrorism-related charges
Location
Jordan, Ontario, Canada (aboard the Maple Leaf train)
Date
Charges: 1 April 2012 – 31 December 2012 RCMP arrests: 22 April 2013
Target
Maple Leaf train
Attack type
Conspiracy
Injured
0
Perpetrators
2 suspects
The 2013 Via Rail Canada terrorism plot was a conspiracy to commit terrorist acts in and against Canada in the form of disruption, destruction or derailment of trains operated by Canada's national passenger railway service, Via Rail Canada. The alleged targeted train route was the Maple Leaf, the daily train service between Toronto and New York City operated jointly by Via Rail and Amtrak.[1][2] A railway bridge over the Twenty Mile Creek in Jordan, Ontario, was later identified as the target, according to unsealed court documents.[3][4]
Suspects Chiheb Esseghaier, a Tunisian national, and Raed Jaser, a Palestinian, were arrested on 22 April 2013 by the RCMP and subsequently charged by the Crown in connection with the plot.[5][6] Both men were permanent residents of Canada at the time of their arrests, although the Canadian government had sought for the deportation of Jaser for a second time after the conviction.[7][8] The deportation attempt was withdrawn after the Ontario Court of Appeal allowed a new trial in August 2019.[8]
On 20 March 2015, an Ontario Superior Court of Justice jury found both defendants guilty on all but one count of the charges. The jury was discharged from determining the extent of guilt on the remaining charge.[9] On 23 September 2015, both Esseghaier and Jaser were sentenced to life imprisonment for a combination of six terrorism-related offences.[10] In August 2019, the Ontario Court of Appeal ordered a new trial for both men due to juror selection issues in Jaser's case, although the Supreme Court of Canada overturned the verdict on 7 October 2020 and, despite affirming the issues regarding juror selection, refused a new trial because their rights to a fair trial were not harmed.[11] The case was then sent back to the appellate court which will hear the remaining issues regarding a new trial.
^Michelle Shepard and Andrew Livingstone (22 April 2013). "RCMP arrest two in alleged plot to derail Via Rail train". Toronto Star. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
^Ian Austen (22 April 2013). "Two Are Accused in Canada of Plotting Train Derailment". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
^Moore, Amanda (13 January 2014). "Jordan train bridge reportedly target of thwarted terror plot". NiagaraThisWeek.com. Grimsby Lincoln News. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
^Bell, Stewart (11 January 2014). "Massive RCMP probe stopped Al-Qaeda-linked conspiracy to derail passenger train: newly released documents". National Post. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
^Blackwell, Tom (22 April 2013). "Two men arrested over 'al-Qaeda inspired' plan to attack a Via Rail train in Toronto area: RCMP". National Post. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
^"Terrorism in Canada: Smoothly Done". The Economist. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
^Moalla, Taieb (26 April 2013). "Via Rail terror suspect recently obtained U.S. visa". London Free Press. QFI Agency. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
^ abBell, Stewart (3 September 2019). "Deportation of terror suspect halted after Ontario court throws out conviction". Global News. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
^Christie Blatchford (20 March 2015). "VIA terror trial: Two men could face life in prison after jury finds them guilty of plotting multiple attacks". National Post. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
^CBC News (23 September 2015). "2 Via Rail terror plotters sentenced to life in prison". CBC News. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
^"No new No new trial for two men convicted in Via Rail terror case, Supreme Court says". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
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