The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has detained a minor in Montreal over suspected terrorism activities. According to an RCMP announcement on Friday, the young individual was reportedly planning an attack on a local school. The RCMP spokesperson, Sgt. Érique Gasse, revealed that the minor utilized artificial intelligence in the alleged attack planning and had sent threatening messages via Telegram, targeting various groups such as Muslims, Haitians, and 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
The arrest was made at the minor’s residence on Friday morning by the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, a multi-agency group that focuses on thwarting criminal actions of terrorist entities or individuals posing threats to Canada’s national security. The RCMP was tipped off by the FBI a few weeks ago about the individual’s intentions to carry out an attack.
The detained individual is currently being questioned by investigators, while a search of his residence is underway to locate any electronic devices or evidence pertinent to the investigation. The police operation aimed to disrupt the suspect’s alleged activities and to obtain a peace bond for monitoring and intervention purposes.
Sgt. Gasse mentioned that the minor is scheduled to appear in youth court on Saturday morning, with the possibility of facing charges at a later stage, as indicated in the RCMP’s official statement.