Canada Suspects 80 Returnees of ’Terror’ Links

Local Editor

Canada said on Wednesday that 80 citizens and immigrants who recently returned from war zones, including Iraq and Syria, are suspected of having links to "terrorism" groups.

The suspects were planning "terrorist activity" on Canadian soil and are accused of working with the so-called "Daesh" [ISIL] extremist group in Iraq and Syria.

"These dangerous individuals have a desire to commit terrorist activity and pose serious threat to law-abiding Canadians," Canadian Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney said.

The 80 suspects are accused of violating Canadian law, which criminalizes participation in "terrorist" activities abroad. They are now under investigation by the Royal Mounted Canadian Police.

An additional 50 people with links to Canada are suspected of being involved in "terrorist activities" and remain abroad, he said.

Not all of the suspects are returning from Iraq and Syria, and they are accused of belonging to several groups in addition to Daesh, said Canadian Security Intelligence Service director Michel Coulomb.

"We have Canadians in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Lebanon, in the Sahel, in the Maghreb, that are involved in terrorist-related activities," Coulomb said.

He said that the activities could include fundraising or propaganda.

The comments come a day after Canadian lawmakers voted to join the air campaign in Iraq against Daesh.
Meanwhile, Canada said it plans to send 600 air crew and other personnel to Iraq, along with six fighter jets and several other military aircraft.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team