Mounties descended on the southern Ontario town of Strathroy on Wednesday afternoon.
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Intelligence sources, who declined to be identified as they did not have permission to speak to media, told Reuters that the suspect was Aaron Driver, who was arrested previous year for openly supporting Islamic State on social media. Police believe Driver was acting alone in the alleged plot, according to the Canadian broadcaster.
Intelligence sources, who declined to be identified as they did not have permission to speak to media, told Reuters that the suspect was Aaron Driver, who was arrested a year ago for openly supporting Islamic State on social media.
“A suspect was identified and the proper course of action has been taken to ensure that there is no danger to the public’s safety”, RCMP said in a statement Wednesday.
Canada’s national police force says it has halted a possible terrorist threat, but it is providing few other details.
According to an internal government document obtained by CTV News, the suspect – who is described as a Caucasian male in his 20s who speaks flawless English without an accent – allegedly planned to use an IED to carry out a suicide bombing mission in a public area.
Sources told CTV’s Mercedes Stephenson that the lone male suspect was linked to ISIS.
However, nothing beyond that has been offered up by RCMP on the nature of that threat, what city the threat originated from, and who may have been involved.
A major counterterrorism operation carried out in Strathroy, Ont., was linked to the investigation, CTV said. It was believed he was going to try and target a public area, and try to create mass casualties.
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The RCMP declined to comment further but urged vigilance.
