Youngest suspect in Canada terror case gets bail

TORONTO, July 24 (Reuters) A Canadian teenager arrested on allegations that he was involved in an al Qaeda-inspired plot to blow up targets in Canada was granted bail today, the third suspect in the case to be freed on bail.

Lawyer Michael Block, whose client cannot be named under Canadian law because he is below 18 years of age, said a judge granted bail after deliberating for nearly two weeks.

''It's a mildly audacious kind of decision because of the notoriety of the circumstances,'' Block told Reuters. ''What it means is that my client is not going to serve a sentence even before it's determined whether he's guilty or not.

''It's a very substantial surety, given the means of his parents which are modest, and very restrictive conditions.'' A publication ban prevents reporting of court testimony.

Police believe the youth is part of a group that is alleged to have discussed storming the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa and detonating bombs at targets in downtown Toronto.

Most of the group of 17 men -- four of them under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged offenses and all citizens or residents of Canada -- were arrested on June 2 in the country's largest counter-terrorism operation. Two were already in custody on weapons offenses.

The 16-year-old released today is the youngest of the group.

''My client, it's fair to say, never really intended anything very grandiose but became one of the subjects of a lot of attention and publicity,'' Block said.

Two other suspects have been granted bail. Ahmad Ghany, 21, was released last Thursday while another of the younger accused was granted bail two weeks ago. Four others have been denied bail.

REUTERS MQA ND2340