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Canada Standard
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Canada Standard
Servicemen arrested in Canada over 'terrorist' plot
Members of a would-be "anti-government militia" had been amassing arms to seize land in Quebec City, police have said Canadian police have detained two active servicemen and two other individuals with links to the country's military as part of an anti-terrorism case. The suspects allegedly sought to establish an "anti-government militia" and were in possession of a sizable arsenal of weapons. In a press release on Tuesday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced the arrest of four men, "including active members of the Canadian Armed Forces," who are suspected of having plotted to "forcibly take possession of land in the Quebec City area." In a separate statement cited by the media, the Canadian Armed Forces confirmed that two of the suspects were active-duty corporals, another one was a former member of the military, and the fourth man previously served as a civilian instructor with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. According to the authorities, the group "took concrete actions to facilitate terrorist activity," and participated in "military-style training." During raids on the suspects' homes in January 2024, arms caches were uncovered, containing a total of 83 firearms, including those prohibited under Canadian law, as well as ammunition, 16 explosive devices, and tactical equipment. According to media reports, citing the police, the investigation was originally launched in 2023, with the cell having supposedly been active since 2021. The authorities stated that the suspects used a private Instagram group to recruit people to join an anti-government uprising. The RCMP's Erique Gasse characterized the case as "ideologically motivated violent extremism," as quoted by the Associated Press. As a Francophone region in predominantly English-speaking Canada, Quebec has a decades-long history of separatist and secessionist movements, with some groups having resorted to violence in the past, particularly in the 1960s and early 1970s. In May, authorities in Germany banned an extremist group known as the "Kingdom of Germany" and arrested four of its top members, including the group's self-declared "king," Peter Fitzek. The group had allegedly established a "counter-state," operated unlicensed banking services and set up its own parallel legal system. The "kingdom" was believed to be affiliated with the so-called Reichsburger (Reich Citizens) movement - a far-right conspiracy-driven network that denies the legitimacy of the modern German state. In December 2022, German police detained two dozen suspects linked to a supposed "Reich Citizens" plot to overthrow the German government and restore the monarchy. The suspects, including former military, police, and commando personnel, had been amassing weapons and trying to recruit supporters in the police and the military, according to the authorities.
Canada News.Net
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
Servicemen arrested in Canada over 'terrorist' plot
Members of a would-be "anti-government militia" had been amassing arms to seize land in Quebec City, police have said Canadian police have detained two active servicemen and two other individuals with links to the country's military as part of an anti-terrorism case. The suspects allegedly sought to establish an "anti-government militia" and were in possession of a sizable arsenal of weapons. In a press release on Tuesday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced the arrest of four men, "including active members of the Canadian Armed Forces," who are suspected of having plotted to "forcibly take possession of land in the Quebec City area." In a separate statement cited by the media, the Canadian Armed Forces confirmed that two of the suspects were active-duty corporals, another one was a former member of the military, and the fourth man previously served as a civilian instructor with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. According to the authorities, the group "took concrete actions to facilitate terrorist activity," and participated in "military-style training." During raids on the suspects' homes in January 2024, arms caches were uncovered, containing a total of 83 firearms, including those prohibited under Canadian law, as well as ammunition, 16 explosive devices, and tactical equipment. According to media reports, citing the police, the investigation was originally launched in 2023, with the cell having supposedly been active since 2021. The authorities stated that the suspects used a private Instagram group to recruit people to join an anti-government uprising. The RCMP's Erique Gasse characterized the case as "ideologically motivated violent extremism," as quoted by the Associated Press. As a Francophone region in predominantly English-speaking Canada, Quebec has a decades-long history of separatist and secessionist movements, with some groups having resorted to violence in the past, particularly in the 1960s and early 1970s. In May, authorities in Germany banned an extremist group known as the "Kingdom of Germany" and arrested four of its top members, including the group's self-declared "king," Peter Fitzek. The group had allegedly established a "counter-state," operated unlicensed banking services and set up its own parallel legal system. The "kingdom" was believed to be affiliated with the so-called Reichsburger (Reich Citizens) movement - a far-right conspiracy-driven network that denies the legitimacy of the modern German state. In December 2022, German police detained two dozen suspects linked to a supposed "Reich Citizens" plot to overthrow the German government and restore the monarchy. The suspects, including former military, police, and commando personnel, had been amassing weapons and trying to recruit supporters in the police and the military, according to the authorities.
Canada Standard
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Canada Standard
Servicemen arrested in Canada over terrorist plot
Members of a would-be anti-government militia had been amassing arms to seize land in Quebec City, police have said Canadian police have detained two active servicemen and two other individuals with links to the country's military as part of an anti-terrorism case. The suspects allegedly sought to establish an "anti-government militia" and were in possession of a sizable arsenal of weapons. In a press release on Tuesday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced the arrest of four men, "including active members of the Canadian Armed Forces," who are suspected of having plotted to "forcibly take possession of land in the Quebec City area." In a separate statement cited by the media, the Canadian Armed Forces confirmed that two of the suspects were active-duty corporals, another one was a former member of the military, and the fourth man previously served as a civilian instructor with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. According to the authorities, the group "took concrete actions to facilitate terrorist activity," and participated in "military-style training." During raids on the suspects' homes in January 2024, arms caches were uncovered, containing a total of 83 firearms, including those prohibited under Canadian law, as well as ammunition, 16 explosive devices, and tactical equipment. According to media reports, citing the police, the investigation was originally launched in 2023, with the cell having supposedly been active since 2021. The authorities stated that the suspects used a private Instagram group to recruit people to join an anti-government uprising. The RCMP's Erique Gasse characterized the case as "ideologically motivated violent extremism," as quoted by the Associated Press. As a Francophone region in predominantly English-speaking Canada, Quebec has a decades-long history of separatist and secessionist movements, with some groups having resorted to violence in the past, particularly in the 1960s and early 1970s. In May, authorities in Germany banned an extremist group known as the "Kingdom of Germany" and arrested four of its top members, including the group's self-declared "king," Peter Fitzek. The group had allegedly established a "counter-state," operated unlicensed banking services and set up its own parallel legal system. The "kingdom" was believed to be affiliated with the so-called Reichsburger (Reich Citizens) movement - a far-right conspiracy-driven network that denies the legitimacy of the modern German state. In December 2022, German police detained two dozen suspects linked to a supposed "Reich Citizens" plot to overthrow the German government and restore the monarchy. The suspects, including former military, police, and commando personnel, had been amassing weapons and trying to recruit supporters in the police and the military, according to the authorities. (
Canada News.Net
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
Servicemen arrested in Canada over terrorist plot
Members of a would-be anti-government militia had been amassing arms to seize land in Quebec City, police have said Canadian police have detained two active servicemen and two other individuals with links to the country's military as part of an anti-terrorism case. The suspects allegedly sought to establish an "anti-government militia" and were in possession of a sizable arsenal of weapons. In a press release on Tuesday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced the arrest of four men, "including active members of the Canadian Armed Forces," who are suspected of having plotted to "forcibly take possession of land in the Quebec City area." In a separate statement cited by the media, the Canadian Armed Forces confirmed that two of the suspects were active-duty corporals, another one was a former member of the military, and the fourth man previously served as a civilian instructor with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. According to the authorities, the group "took concrete actions to facilitate terrorist activity," and participated in "military-style training." During raids on the suspects' homes in January 2024, arms caches were uncovered, containing a total of 83 firearms, including those prohibited under Canadian law, as well as ammunition, 16 explosive devices, and tactical equipment. According to media reports, citing the police, the investigation was originally launched in 2023, with the cell having supposedly been active since 2021. The authorities stated that the suspects used a private Instagram group to recruit people to join an anti-government uprising. The RCMP's Erique Gasse characterized the case as "ideologically motivated violent extremism," as quoted by the Associated Press. As a Francophone region in predominantly English-speaking Canada, Quebec has a decades-long history of separatist and secessionist movements, with some groups having resorted to violence in the past, particularly in the 1960s and early 1970s. In May, authorities in Germany banned an extremist group known as the "Kingdom of Germany" and arrested four of its top members, including the group's self-declared "king," Peter Fitzek. The group had allegedly established a "counter-state," operated unlicensed banking services and set up its own parallel legal system. The "kingdom" was believed to be affiliated with the so-called Reichsburger (Reich Citizens) movement - a far-right conspiracy-driven network that denies the legitimacy of the modern German state. In December 2022, German police detained two dozen suspects linked to a supposed "Reich Citizens" plot to overthrow the German government and restore the monarchy. The suspects, including former military, police, and commando personnel, had been amassing weapons and trying to recruit supporters in the police and the military, according to the authorities.
CNN
08-07-2025
- CNN
Members of Canadian military among four charged in ‘extremist' plot to grab land in Quebec
Four men in Quebec, including two active members of the Canadian Armed Forces, were arrested and charged in what Canadian police say is a case of 'ideologically motivated violent extremism.' Three of the men, all in their mid-twenties, 'were planning to create an anti-government militia' with the intent to 'forcibly take possession of land in the Québec City area,' the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said in a statement on Tuesday. 'To achieve this, [the three men] took part in military-style training, as well as shooting, ambush, survival and navigation exercises,' the statement continues. 'They also conducted a scouting operation. A variety of firearms, some prohibited, as well as high-capacity magazines and tactical equipment were allegedly used in these activities.' The three were charged with facilitating terrorist activity. A fourth individual, a man in his early thirties, faces numerous firearms and explosives-related charges, police said. The four appeared in court in Quebec City on Tuesday, the statement added. CNN is attempting to contact their legal representation. In a January 2024 search near Quebec City, police say they found '16 explosive devices, 83 firearms and accessories, approximately 11,000 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, nearly 130 magazines, four pairs of night vision goggles and military equipment.' Corporal Erique Gasse, a spokesman for the RCMP, told CNN Tuesday that the investigation began in March 2023. He said that the men involved were 'promoting guns' and attempting to recruit people for their militia through a private Instagram account. They used the account to advertise military-style training in Quebec and Ontario, Gasse added. Gasse did not elaborate on what specific ideology allegedly motivated the men, or the location of the land near Quebec City police claim they plotted to seize. 'It's a good thing we caught them when we did,' Gasse said. The RCMP did not identify which of the men are members of the Canadian Armed Forces. The Canadian Department of National Defence told CNN they are aware of charges against 'two active members of the Canadian Armed Forces.' 'The Canadian Armed Forces is taking these allegations very seriously and has fully participated in the investigation,' a department spokesperson said in an email. Extremism within Canada's armed forces is a longstanding issue, with a 2022 government report noting that the country's military is 'not immune to infiltration' by members of extremist groups. 'The suspected presence of members of extremist groups within [the Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces] is a pressing moral, social and operational issue,' the report concluded.
