Normal Kids In Our Midst

"[Mohamed is a] normal kid in almost every respect [with no criminal record]."
"He's never been in any kind of trouble so there isn't any kind of background to this. He grew up in Ottawa, he went to school here. There is really nothing exceptional about him."
"[Mohamed knows] very little [of what he is accused of]. Obviously, he is very confused and upset in the situation he finds himself in."
"The family are quite taken by surprise. They naturally believe that their son hasn't done anything untoward and they are anxious to see the disclosure and understand what the nature of the allegations are."
Doug Baum, Lawyer

Idris Altahir, Mohamed's father, said his son is a normal, quiet, polite and generous person. (CBC News)

The young Ottawa man facing accusations of conspiring with two brothers, also of Ottawa who were arrested days previously, is facing charges -- like twin siblings Ashton and Carlos Larmond -- of facilitating terrorism. Suliman Mohamed, 21, has made his first court appearance and was remanded in custody. His father, Idris Altahir, insists "My son is not involved in this at all" and was "not at all" radicalized.

Doesn't every father believe he 'knows' his sons' motivations and behaviours? Despite which he was unable to explain that his son whom he denied even knew the Larmond brothers facing the same terrorism charges more than slightly as "just casual acquaintances" lived together in Vanier "for a short period".

Ashton Larmond, left, and his twin brother Carlos appeared in court on Saturday to face several terrorism-related charges. (Sketches by Laurie Foster-MacLeod)

The specific nature of the evidence that led to the arrests beyond the broad charge of abetting terrorism has not yet been made public. A summary of the evidence against Mohamed, as well as that held for the Larmond twins, is yet to be presented, but when they are, full disclosure should explain much during the weeks to come. In the meanwhile, as his lawyer said, Mohamed knows "very little" of what he has been accused of.

Not that he is not aware, presumably, of what led to his arrest, since he would have been under close security surveillance for quite some time, but precisely which of his activities the charges are based on. Which, if true, will reveal what he and his colleagues have been up to. One count each of conspiring to facilitate terrorism in tandem with the Larmond brothers -- and participating in terrorist activities.

To obtain bail, as he appears to be prepared to seek, he must demonstrate to the court why it should agree to his release. The Crown, for its part, plans to oppose his release. "I think that it should be obvious that there is a serious risk with these type of charges" Roderick Sonley from the Public Prosecution Services of Canada stated. The RCMP doesn't proceed with charges if it is not persuaded it has evidence sufficient to proceed with

All will be revealed in the fullness of time.

The RCMP has disclosed information on its high-risk traveller watch list with the names of 93 Canadians, a number considered to represent a "moving target" according to a retired deputy commissioner of the RCMP, Pierre-Yves Bourduas. "The last I heard was 145." Included on the list are those who have been brought to police attention because those closest to them have noticed a "worrisome change" in behaviour.

Extremist comments on social media and suspicious travel also alert police to the presence of those whose activities should be monitored. Yet close surveillance presents a challenge all its own. "To have surveillance 24/7 on 93 or 145 individuals, it sucks the life out of any police organization. It's very labour-intensive", stressed Mr. Bourduas.