Canadian Sting Operation

Details of the arrest of the Canadian Jihadis are beginning to come out. It seems the police were involved in the sale of the ammonium nitrate fertilizer to the group. Which means that at least they were fully aware of when the group was coming close to carrying out plans.

The delivery of three tonnes of ammonium nitrate to a group suspected of plotting terrorist attacks in southern Ontario was part of an undercover police sting operation, the Toronto Star has learned.

The RCMP said yesterday that after investigating the alleged homegrown terrorist cell for months, they had to move quickly Friday night to arrest 12 men and five youths before the group could launch a bomb attack on Canadian soil.

Sources say investigators who had learned of the group's alleged plan to build a bomb were controlling the sale and transport of the massive amount of fertilizer, a key component in creating explosives. Once the deal was done, the RCMP-led anti-terrorism task force moved in for the arrests.

At a news conference yesterday morning, the RCMP displayed a sample of ammonium nitrate and a crude cell phone detonator they say was seized in the massive police sweep when the 17 were taken into custody. However, they made no mention of the police force's involvement in the sale.

"It was their intent to use it for a terrorist attack," said RCMP assistant commissioner Mike McDonell. "If I can put this in context for you, the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people was completed with only one tonne of ammonium nitrate."

Ammonium nitrate is a popular fertilizer, but when mixed with fuel oil it can create a powerful explosive.

There are the requisite protestations from relatives that the men are innocent, of course. One does wonder what in the world someone needs three tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer for unless you're a farmer, of course.