Man arrested on fear of terrorism in Toronto
Posted March 26, 2016 1:32 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO (NEWS 1130) – Police arrested a 23-year-old man under a little used section of the criminal code relating to terrorism.
The RCMP say Kevin Omar Mohamed was arrested in Toronto under a Criminal Code provision titled Fear of Terrorism.
The provision was tweaked last year as part of the former Conservative government’s controversial Bill C-51, which allowed police to arrest someone — with consent of the attorney general — on grounds they may commit a terrorist offence.
Previously, police had to believe someone actually would carry out the crime. A charge is not laid under the rarely used provision.
But police have laid charges against Mohamed of carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace. Mounties add there is no evidence of any plans of a domestic terrorism attack and specified that the suspect’s arrest is not linked to recent terrorist attacks in Brussels.
Mohamed is in custody and is due in court again on Tuesday.