Terror in the western hemisphere update

According to AFP via Breitbart.com, 17 people were arrested in terror plot in Canada last night for plotting Al-Qaeda-inspired "terrorist attacks" on several locations in Ontario. Apparently one of the targets was a high rise office building that housed offices of a Canadian intelligence service. In early press releases from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) there were no targets in the United States and that this group was focusing on Canadian assets. According to a late breaking news clip from MSNBC, this group may also have been linked to a Georgia Tech college student who was arrested in a couple of months ago and is currently being held by America authorities charged with giving "material support" to a terrorist organization.

The Canadian terror cell was in the process of obtaining 3 tons of ammonium nitrate, a common fertilizer ingredient similar to that used 0n April 19, 1995, by American terrorist Timothy McVeigh to bring to the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

For reference on ammonium nitrate: 1 ton is equal to 1,000 kg. McVeigh used a rented Ryder truck containing about 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg) of explosive material exploded. The truck bomb was composed of ammonium nitrate, an agricultural fertilizer containing nitromethane, a highly volatile motor-racing fuel mixture also known as Kinepak or ANFO (ammonium nitrate/fuel oil). The effects of the blast could even be felt in Bridge Creek, which is about 30 miles away from the Murrah Building.

So, as you can see the potential for 3 tons of ammonium nitrate could produce catastrophic results. Imagine how multiple targets could be blown simultaneously. Keep in mind this was just one Canadian terror cell.

In the world of terrorism, the structure of a terror cell is intended to limit the harm that can be done if members are captured and interrogated. Judging by the amount of explosives and number of persons involved, this was a rather sophisticated cell. The Toronto cell, by press reports, had 17 jihadists.

The authorities apparently had the cell under investigation for some time and gave them a long leash to see who else the cell would lead to. This blogger will not discount other cells or terrorist activities planned in Canada or the United States.

This could be another terror gang "who could not shoot straight?" Press coverage and sloppy news leaks regarding the Georgia Tech student and second American arrested in Bangladesh and handed over to the FBI appeared in the mainstream media in April along with grumblings about rights violations, illegal wiretaps, and other stories contrary to our war on terror.

Apparently, the Toronto terror cell kept on with their plans until they were arrested yesterday. What is disturbing that we are seeing with this cell, the Americans, and recent British jihadists that they are home grown jihadists born and/or raised in the countries that they reject.

Why are members of the religion of peace radicalizing and wanting to destroy freedom and democracy?

Other news links of interest:

FBI: Georgia men talked of U.S. terror plan

U.S. man accused of terror plot appears in court
Student, second man allegedly met with Islamic extremists in Canada

UK Police search of "dirty chemical bomb" vest and plot location

Technorati Tags: Canada ... America ... Terrorism ... Terror cell ... Islamic extremists ... Toronto ... al-Qaeda ... Islam ... Ontario ... Opinion