The planned terrorist attack in Toronto was thwarted due to a tip by French authorities, who warned the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service about the plot.
Late last month, the RCMP arrested 62-year-old Ahmed Eldidi and his 26-year-old son Mostafa Eldidi on several charges after conspiring to commit a terrorist attack on behalf of the Islamic State.
Sources told Global News that French authorities became aware of one of the Eldidis and their involvement with ISIS and told CSIS soon after.
France is said to have approached Canadian officials with the intelligence around June, allowing CSIS to conduct a brief investigation before handing the case over to the RCMP. How French authorities came to learn of the Eldidis is unknown.
Mounties arrested Ahmed and Mostafa on July 28 in a hotel, as officials say that the Eldidis were “in the advanced stages of planning a serious violent attack in Toronto.”
According to the RCMP, Ahmed and Mostafa were allegedly in possession of a machete and an axe when they were arrested.
The father and son were both charged with participation in activities of a terrorist group, facilitating terrorist activity, possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose and conspiracy to commit murder. Additionally, Ahmed was charged with aggravated assault.
The case has raised questions as to how the Eldidis were allowed into the country in the first place.
Before Ahmed immigrated to Canada, Ahmed was allegedly captured on video in 2015 dismembering a prisoner with a sword in an ISIS propaganda video, hacking the hands and feet off of a man being hung on a pole.
Ahmed and Mostafa were not only allowed into Canada, but RCMP has confirmed that Ahmed was granted Canadian citizenship, though it is unclear when he became a citizen. Mostafa and Ahmed were living in Toronto as city residents at the time of their arrest.
Parliament’s public safety committee unanimously voted to investigate how the two terror suspects were allowed into the country despite their alleged ties to the Islamic State.
The committee voted to study the case and to demand the ministers of public safety and immigration to answer questions as to how the government allowed the budding terrorists into the country.
In a comment to True North, CSIS said that they cannot comment to confirm the reports.
“While CSIS has formal relationships with many domestic and foreign partners, we do not comment on the nature of our reporting, investigations, methodologies or activities in order to maintain the integrity of our operations,” a CSIS spokesperson told True North.
The RCMP communicated a similar message to CSIS’, refusing to give details as to how they were tipped off about Ahmed and Mostafa.
“The RCMP may receive information from many sources. For example, our law enforcement partners, Internet sources, and ordinary Canadians can provide a variety of tips. Our Intelligence Analysts may take these tips and put together a more fulsome picture that can be used by our officers to advance a line of investigation,” said an RCMP spokesperson.
“We remain vigilant for potential threats and take the appropriate measures to ensure that the safety and security of Canadians is protected. As this is an open and ongoing investigation, we will not be commenting further to protect the integrity of the investigation.”