A man arrested in Quebec for an alleged plot to kill Jews in New York City made a court appearance on Monday.
The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Sami Bebawi, was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Sunday in the Montreal suburb of Sainte-Julie. He is facing charges of attempting to leave Canada to participate in terrorist activity and making plans to commit a terrorist act.
According to the RCMP, Bebawi was planning to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State (IS) and then carry out an attack on Jewish communities in New York City. The investigation was launched after a tip from the FBI, who had been monitoring Bebawi’s online activities.
During his court appearance, Bebawi was ordered to remain in custody until his next hearing on December 9. The Crown prosecutor argued that he should not be released due to the seriousness of the charges and the potential danger he poses to the public.
Bebawi’s lawyer, however, argued that his client has no criminal record and should be released on bail with strict conditions. The judge has yet to make a decision on the matter.
The arrest has sparked concern and condemnation from Jewish communities in both Canada and the United States. B’nai Brith Canada, a Jewish advocacy group, released a statement calling for the full prosecution of Bebawi and urging authorities to remain vigilant against potential terrorist threats.
This is not the first time that Canada has been targeted by individuals with ties to IS. In 2014, a Canadian man carried out a shooting at the National War Memorial and Parliament Hill in Ottawa, killing a soldier and injuring three others. In 2017, a man was arrested for attempting to carry out a bombing at a shopping mall in Edmonton.
The RCMP and other law enforcement agencies continue to work together to prevent and disrupt potential terrorist activities in Canada. The investigation into Bebawi’s alleged plot is ongoing and more details are expected to be released in the coming days.
