Another Jihad Sideshow

Actually, a continuation of unfinished business.  Although given the gravity of the charges, one can only wonder that the law has taken so very long in getting around to placing the three men who involved themselves in a terror plot in Ottawa meant to convey a message to Canadian society that those with jihadist intent condemn it unequivocally.

Federal prosecutors have finally decided to act.  Whether on the basis of new materials and evidence revealed or just simply getting around to updating a case that first came to public attention almost two years ago.  The arrest of these men followed a year-long RCMP investigation which was named "Project Samossa".

Indubitably, matters would not have proceeded to arrests and charges had not sufficient evidence been revealed.  Now the Public Prosecution Service of Canada has made an announcement that direct indictments against the men in question have been filed in Ontario Superior Court, though federal officials made no attempt to explain this departure from normal procedures in a criminal case.

Hiva Mohammad Alizadeh, 32, and Misbahuddin Ahmed, 28, will now stand trial, without a preliminary hearing.  New allegations have surfaced against both men, charging them with participating in the activities of a terrorist group.  Previously they were charged with conspiring to facilitate terrorist activity and the possession of explosives.

A companion in their enterprise, Khurram Syed Sher, 30, from London, Ontario, was a respected pathologist operating professionally out of a London hospital.  He faces one count of conspiring to facilitate terrorist activity.  The three additional men named in the case as co-conspirators have never been apprehended.  They remain at large, overseas.

The crimes related to terrorism took place between February 2008 and August 2010, in Canada, Iran, Afghanistan, Dubai and Pakistan.  Mr. Ahmed had been released on strict bail conditions in September of 2010, and has been living with his in-laws in Ste.Justine, Quebec, in accordance with those conditions.

Mr. Sher was also released on bail.  Mr. Alizadeh remained in custody.

Lawyers for the accused consider the charges to be in the realm of "complete and utter nonsense".

The complete-and-utter-nonsense background includes the seizure from Mr. Alizadeh's Bayshore home of 60 circuit boards which investigators claim as evidence the plan was to design remotely activated bomb detonators.