'Mole helped Canada uncover al Qaeda plot'

Toronto, Oct 14: A young Canadian of Egyptian origin acted as a mole to help authorities unravel an alleged al Qaeda-inspired plot to bomb buildings in downtown Toronto, CBC television said.

CBC, in a report carried on its Web site (http://www.cbc.ca) and on its evening news programme yesterday said the young agricultural engineer was now part of a witness protection program.

''He really felt, as a loyal Muslim Canadian, like he owed Canada something,'' a former associate told the programme. ''And it's not surprising to see that he did that for the cause of Canada.'' CBC said the man, who is in his 20s, had helped police because he wanted to prevent a ''civilian calamity.'' It said he was the second mole in the alleged plot.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested a group of Canadian Muslims in June and has charged them with a variety of terrorism-related offenses, including plotting to build a truck bomb larger than that used in the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995 and setting up a terrorist training camp.

Police said the group, which included both adults and teenagers, had acquired three tonnes of what they believed was ammonium nitrate, as well as other bomb-making equipment.

Some of the younger suspects have been granted bail, but others are in jail ahead of what is likely to be a long series of preliminary court hearings followed by a prolonged trial.

There have been no al Qaeda-inspired attacks in Canada, although security officials have frequently warned that Canada must not be complacent about the risk of an attack.

Canada declined to join the US-led coalition in Iraq, but Canadian troops are fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, raising the country's profile in the Muslim world.

Reuters