Canada police make arrests for "terrorism" offenses

MONTREAL, June 3 (Reuters) The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said that it arrested a number of individuals in the Toronto area for ''terrorism-related offenses.'' ''The operation is on-going,'' said Corporal Michele Paradis, spokeswoman for the Mounties yesterday.

Paradis declined to offer details on the nature of the arrests or provide a specific number of those detained in the police operation, which was conducted with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Canada's main intelligence agency.

Those arrested were being held in the city of Pickering, a Toronto suburb. The RCMP said it planned to hold a press conference this in Toronto to provide details, but would not comment further until then, Paradis said.

REUTERS PDS BST0805