Twelve men accused of plotting to blow up Canadian targets in a terrorist plot that authorities say was inspired by al-Qaeda faced a formal hearing today on the charges against them.
Police expect more arrests, and intelligence officers are investigating possible ties between the 12 men and five other suspects and Islamic terror cells in the United States and five other countries.
The Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton, a small city just west of Toronto, yesterday said the men arrested over the weekend were charged with participating in a terrorist group. Other charges include importing weapons and planning a bombing.
The charges against the five minors were not made public.
The Parliament of Canada, in Ottawa is believed to be among targets the group discussed.
A Muslim leader who knew the oldest suspect, Qayyum Abdul Jamal (43), said Jamal's sermons at a local mosque were "filled with hate" against Canada.