Train terror plan foiled

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Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Broadcast: 23/04/2013

Reporter: John Stewart

Canadian police have arrested two men who were planning to derail a train travelling between New York and Toronto.


EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: Iran has denied any links to two men arrested in Canada, accused of planning a terrorist attack on a train. Canadian authorities say the attack was planned with support from Al Qaeda groups based in Iran but not with the backing of the Iranian Government. Iran's Foreign Minister has tonight said that linking Iran to Al Qaeda is ridiculous.

John Stewart reports.

JOHN STEWART, REPORTER: The two men were arrested in Montreal and Toronto. Chiheb Esseghaier, a 30 year old PhD student from Tunisia and Read Jaser, a 35 year old Palestinian with citizenship in the United Arab Emirates. Both men had been living in Canada for several years. Canadian police say they were planning to derail a passenger train travelling between Toronto and New York and could have killed hundreds of people.

JENNIFER STRACHAN, CANADIAN POLICE SUPERINTENDENT: Our investigation and the even - evidence found indicated that the accused were conspiring to carry out a terrorist attack against a veer rail passenger train in the greater Toronto area.

JOHN STEWART: The PhD student from Tunisia was studying industrial biology and had recently been travelling overseas. The Canadian police say the men had received direction and guidance from Al Qaeda groups based in Iran but not from the Iranian Government.

JAMES MALIZIA, CANADIAN POLICE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER: The individuals were receiving support from Al Qaeda elements located in Iran. There is no information to indicate that these attacks were State sponsored.

JOHN STEWART: Relations between Iran's Shiite leaders and Sunni led Al Qaeda groups are often hostile. But some Al Qaeda members have been allowed to live in Iran. Iran's Foreign Minister has denied any link between his country and the Canadian plot.

ALI AKBAR SALEHI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (TRANSLATION): It is in fact the most ridiculous thing I have heard in my entire 64 years, and again I want to insist that if what you have said is correct, then I hope Canadian officials resort to more wisdom and respect the common sense of the people. What is this nonsense that they are spreading?

JOHN STEWART: When American forces raided Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan they reportedly found plans to attack trains in the United States. Police say the men had been under surveillance since August last year and had been monitoring trains along the route from Toronto to New York. Canadian police say the men were arrested after a tip off from members of Toronto's Muslim community. This morning the two men will appear in court, charged with plotting the first Al Qaeda backed attack on Canadian soil.

JENNIFER STRACHAN: These charges include conspiring to interfere with transportation facilities, and murdering persons for the benefit of a terrorist group.

JOHN STEWART: US authorities say the men have no connection to the Boston marathon bombings. Despite recent events, Australia's terror alert level remains unchanged.

MARK DREYFUS, ATTORNEY GENERAL: The terror alert level here in Australia remains at medium, that's where it's been since 2001 and of course that's still something to be concerned about because it's a terror alert level, that means a terror event could occur at any time.

JOHN STEWART: And tonight in Spain, police have arrested two North African men suspected of having links to Al Qaeda.

John Stewart, Lateline.


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