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Another Suspected Islamic State Sympathizer Was Arrested in Canada

Authorities allege the arrested man was plotting an attack on financial buildings and the US consulate in Toronto.

Photo via Flickr user Victor

This article originally appeared on VICE Canada.

Another alleged Islamic State sympathizer has been arrested in Canada for terrorist-related activities, the latest in a series of arrests since the high-profile attacks on Canadian military personnel in October.

Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney confirmed an accused Islamic State supporter is in the custody of the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) after it foiled alleged plots to bomb the US consulate in Toronto and other financial targets in Canada's largest city.

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According to a CBC report, on Monday Jahanzeb Malik, 33, a Pakistani national, was arrested after allegedly attempting to radicalize an RCMP undercover agent by showing him Islamic State beheading videos.

So far authorities are mum on exactly how far along Malik's plot really got, while no criminal charges have been laid against him.

"I would like to confirm that CBSA has arrested an individual, a supporter of the Islamic State who was allegedly planning a terrorist attack here in Canada," said Blaney in a press conference in Ottawa. "This individual was also promoting jihadi ideology. The arrest took place in Toronto and was conducted by our Canadian Border Service Agency."

Malik allegedly wanted to document his terrorist mission in a video statement in order to incite others to follow his example. That move has become standard practice for several would-be or wannabe terrorist attackers in Canada.

Blaney said the arrest of the individual believed to be Malik, who is identified by name in several media reports, is the result of joint anti-terror operations between the CBSA, RCMP, and Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS)—the same national intelligence agency recently granted broad new foreign spying powers by Ottawa.

Currently, Canadian authorities are pushing for Malik to be deported to his native Pakistan, rather than face charges in Canada.

The public safety minister, under fire after saying a verse from the Quran was against "Canadian values," said the foiled attack is proof alone why the Canadian Armed Forces is engaged in a military campaign against the Islamic State—and the reason parliamentarians should support Bill C-51.

"We believe this is a strong and robust tool while promoting the rights of Canadians," Blaney said about the controversial anti-terror bill set to empower Canada's law enforcement agencies with sweeping new surveillance and arresting powers. "So I urge all parliamentarians to support this important bill to increase the safety of Canadians."

After Blaney's statement, questions arose as to whether or not the law enforcement agencies, thanked and named by Blaney, were even in need of new legal capabilities given the success of Malik's arrest and the several others since the beginning of 2015.

In response, Blaney said the "the threat is real" and that law enforcement agencies like the RCMP have asked for the "many tools in C-51."

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