Terrorism charges laid as part of ongoing multi-force investigation

A minor has been arrested and charged as part of the “national security investigation” currently occurring in Kingston, according to the RCMP.

The minor was arrested by the RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET), and charged with a terrorism-related charges and Criminal Code infraction.

According to the RCMP, the charges include:

• Knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity, contrary to section 83.19 of the Criminal Code
• Counselling a person to deliver, place, discharge or detonate an explosive or other lethal device to, into, in, or against a place of public use with intent to cause serious bodily injury, contrary to section 431.2 of the Criminal Code offence which was not committed, and did thereby commit an offence contrary to section 464(a) of the Criminal Code.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act prevents any further release of information regarding this individual. A second individual, an adult male, has also been arrested, but has not been charged.

“I want to reassure the citizens of the greater Kingston, Ontario area and all Canadians, that during the investigation, our primary focus was the safety and protection of the public,” said Chief Superintendent Michael LeSage, Criminal Operations Officer in O Division.

“I would also like to highlight the efforts of our INSET here in Ontario which worked diligently to obtain the evidence required for these charges. Investigations of this nature are complex and require significant time and resources to come to a successful conclusion, while ensuring public safety at all times.”

The RCMP stated they would like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Kingston Police, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) for their cooperation and collaboration.

“The Kingston Police assisted the RCMP in the public engagement and community outreach on this investigation. We recognize the tremendous value of law enforcement, working in close collaboration, to protect the safety our communities,” said Kingston Police Chief Antje McNeely.

Following two raids involving Kingston Police, the RCMP, and the FBI on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, police investigations continued through the night.

In the early morning of Friday, Jan. 25, Kingston residents in two separate parts of the city reported similar strange sounds. While both sources preferred to remain anonymous, they both indicated hearing almost the exact same thing.

A resident on Montreal Street in the Megaffin Park area was alarmed to hear what sounded like the detonation of an explosive around 3 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 25. The resident reported hearing voices yelling “Four, three, two, one…” followed by loud bang.

Similarly, a resident on MacDonnell Street, near the house that police entered on Thursday, reported being disturbed by strange noises in the middle of the night. The source indicated they were awoken in the middle of the night by what “sounded like an explosion” and reported hearing someone saying “Four, three, two, one…” and then “a small bang.”

While it is unconfirmed whether or not these noises or events were related to the raids carried on Thursday, police have indicated that all investigations are ongoing, and the RCMP have stated that “the situation remains fluid.”

A press conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. today (Friday, Jan 25, 2019). If possible, Kingstonist will live stream that press conference on Instagram at Instagram.com/Kingstonist

More to come as information becomes available.