A GROUP OF CANADIAN RESIDENTS ARRESTED FOR "TERRORISM RELATED OFFENSES" WERE INSPIRED BY AL QAEDA, HAD AMASSED ENOUGH EXPLOSIVES TO BUILD HUGE BOMBS AND WERE PLANNING TO BLOW UP TARGETS IN DENSELY POPULATED ONTARIO, POLICE SAID ON SATURDAY, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. MIKE MCDONELL, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE, SAID THE GROUP HAD ACQUIRED THREE TONNES OF AMMONIUM NITRATE -- OR THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT USED IN THE 1995 BOMBING IN OKLAHOMA CITY -- AS THEY SOUGHT TO "CREATE EXPLOSIVE DEVICES." POLICE ARRESTED 12 MEN AND FIVE YOUNG PEOPLE. THE ADULTS WERE FROM TORONTO, ITS WESTERN SUBURB OF MISSISSAUGA AND FROM KINGSTON, ONTARIO, AT THE EASTERN EDGE OF LAKE ONTARIO AND NOT FAR FROM THE BORDER WITH THE UNITED STATES. AT A NEWS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THE ARRESTS, POLICE SHOWED OFF A HAUL THEY DESCRIBED AS BOMB-MAKING EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING WHITE SACKS OF FERTILIZER, A CELL PHONE IN A BOX WITH WIRING, A BOARD APPARENTLY USED FOR TARGET PRACTICE, A COMPUTER HARD DRIVE AND ARMY FATIGUES. "THIS GROUP POSED A REAL AND SERIOUS THREAT," MCDONELL SAID. "IT HAD THE CAPACITY AND INTENT TO CARRY OUT ATTACKS. ... THE MODUS OPERANDI IS VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER ATTACKS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE AROUND THE WORLD AND OTHER THREAT OF ATTACKS." HE ADDED: "WE MUST REMAIN VIGILANT. CANADA IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CRIMINAL TERRORIST ACTIVITY AS MUCH AS ANY OTHER COUNTRY." POLICE CHARGED THE ADULTS, AGED BETWEEN 19 AND 43, AND FIVE YOUNGSTERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18, WITH TERRORISM-RELATED OFFENSES AND THEY WERE TO APPEAR AT A HEAVILY GUARDED COURTHOUSE ON SATURDAY. THE BUILDING WAS RINGED BY POLICE VEHICLES, AND SNIPERS STOOD GUARD NEARBY.
