Aspiring Islamic Terrorists In Via Rail Bombing Plot Discussed Alternative Plans To Poison Air/Water To Kill Up To 100,000 People

This Canadian Muslim wanted to kill 100,000 people. For peaceful purposes …

By JESSICA MURPHY, QMI Agency – “WASHINGTON, D.C. – An FBI sting operation scooped up a third man in the foiled plot to derail a Via passenger train between Toronto and New York, U.S. authorities said Thursday.

Ahmed Abassi, a Tunisian citizen who previously lived in Canada, is charged with two counts of knowingly making false statements in an application to immigration authorities for a green card and work visa in order to facilitate an act of international terrorism.

Each count carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in jail.

‘As alleged, Mr. Abassi came to the United States to pursue terrorist activity and support others in the same shameful pursuit. What Mr. Abassi didn’t know was that one of his associates, privy to the details of his plan, was an undercover FBI agent,’ FBI assistant director-in-charge George Venizelos said in a statement.

Authorities arrested Abassi on April 22, the same day Canadian law enforcement nabbed Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, of Montreal and Raed Jaser, 35, of Toronto.

The U.S. Department of Justice only only unsealed Abassi’s indictment Thursday in Manhattan federal court.

Esseghaier and Jaser appeared in Canadian court April 23 charged with a series of terrorism-related offences, including conspiring to murder people and to interfere with transportation facilities for a terrorist group.

In its release, the Department of Justice alleges it was Abassi who was responsible for radicalizing Esseghaier and met with him in New York City after travelling from Canada to the Unites States in mid-March. It is unclear where Abassi lived in Canada and how long he was there.

In his recorded conversations with Esseghaier and the undercover FBI agent, Abassi reportedly talked about his desire to commit terrorist acts in the U.S. and other countries and his intention to provide support and funding to terror organizations including an al-Qaida in Iraq affiliate called the al-Nusrah Front.

It’s also alleged he had plans to recruit others to his cause.

In a statement, the RCMP said they worked closely with their American counterparts in the parallel investigation…

Abassi’s next court date in New York City is set for June 11.

Two of the suspects in the Via Rail bombing plot discussed alternative plans to poison the air or water to kill up to 100,000 people, according to U.S. Department of Justice documents.” Read more.