Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Legal News Blogs -> JURIST - The Paper Chase

Legal News

: JURIST - The Paper Chase

'Toronto 18' member pleads guilty to terrorism charges

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] A man currently imprisoned for smuggling guns into Canada pleaded guilty Monday to terrorism charges linked to the "Toronto 18" plot. Ali Mohamed Dirie's guilty plea comes less than three weeks after the first member of the group to plead guilty was sentenced to 14 years in prison for his role in connection with a plot to carry out terrorist attacks in Toronto to protest Canada's military presence in Afghanistan. The extent of Dirie's involvement in the terrorist plot has not yet been divulged due to a court ordered publication ban that could affect others in the group currently facing charges. A detailed report is expected to be filed in the court this week. The "Toronto 18," arrested in 2006, are accused of planning a series of violent attacks on civilians, public officials, and government buildings. Although little information was released about the minors arrested among the Toronto 18, the charges eventually laid against the 12 adult males included participating in a terrorist group, receiving training from a terrorist group, training terrorists, and importing weapons and ammunition for terrorism. In May, one of the group's members, the first person convicted under Canada's post-9/11 terrorism law was sentenced to 36 months in prison and released by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in consideration of the time he had already served.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on September 22, 2009 (boomark / email).