The following information is summarized from a Washington Free Beacon article: “ISIS Terrorists Infiltrating Canada, Suspected of Plotting Attacks”
The Canadian government has issued a new report warning its citizens that it knows of at least 180 people who have traveled abroad to join terror groups and is tracking 60 “extremist travelers” who have returned to Canada.
More than 40 individuals have been charged with terrorism-related offenses in Canada since 2002, and sixteen people have been charged since January 2015.
Canada’s findings are similar to warnings by US officials saying ISIS affiliates are already living in America.
Points detailed in the report:
— Terrorists returning to Canada after fighting abroad in areas such a Syria “raise serious safety concerns,” and the report warns “a violent act of terrorism could occur in Canada.”
— Canadian authorities have been monitoring a number of Western individuals who have traveled to join terror groups, with some of them making their way back to North America which raises concerns that ISIS is planning attacks on the continent.
— “Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011, more than 36,500 extremist travelers from over 100 countries, including at least 6,600 individuals from Western countries, have traveled to Syria.”
— Through the end of 2015, the Canadian government “was aware of approximately 180 individuals with a nexus to Canada who were abroad and who were suspected of engaging in terrorism-related activities.”
— “Returning extremist travelers may also raise serious security concerns for their home countries,” and the authorities are aware of “about 60 extremist travelers who had returned to Canada.”
— “The experiences and intentions of these individuals vary. They may have skills, experience and relationships developed abroad that could be used to recruit or inspire individuals in Canada. … [They could] engage in terrorist financing, helping others to travel, or even planning attacks in Canada. The attacks directed by Daesh in Paris and Brussels provide examples. Most of the attackers were returnees linked to Daesh.”
— “The principal terrorist threat to Canada remains that posed by violent extremists who could be inspired to carry out an attack in Canada. … Violent extremist ideologies espoused by terrorist groups like Daesh and al-Qaida continue to appeal to certain individuals in Canada.”
— One person arrested in 2010 was planning to detonate an explosive device upon returning to Canada after he swore an oath of loyalty to al-Qaida and the Taliban. “[He] returned to Canada with expertise and intent to train, finance and equip a terrorist cell in Ottawa. He also maintained contact with terrorists in Iran and Afghanistan while working to recruit other men and raise money to finance a proposed attack.”