Last updated: 03/07/2007 03:42:23 AM PST


NEW JERSEY, JUNE 4 - According to a local Canadian agronomist, the amount of potential explosives "intended" to be amassed by the Toronto-area terror suspects could not be gathered in the prairies.

The alleged terrorist cell was reported Friday by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to have aimed for a cache of three tons of ammonium nitrate, three times the amount used in the 1995 bombing in Oklahoma City in which 168 people died.

Twelve adults, all in their twenties, and five youngsters, almost entirely of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin, were arrested Friday by Canadian police and security authorities in what is being called the biggest ever anti-terrorist operation of its kind in Canada.

RCMP said the group had the "capacity and intent" and represented a "real and serious threat" but that investigators have yet to prove a link to the Al-Qaida terror network.

Talking to a local News Talk Radio 650 CKOM SASKATOON today, Tom Weir, an agronomist of Saskatchewan said the numbers (3 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer) just don't exist in Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan is a huge agricultural province of Canada.

He added that the Canadian agricultural industry has introduced safeguards...people attempting to buy quantities of ammonium nitrate must be known to the seller. If not, that salesperson must report the incident.

But CTV.ca quoted police officials saying "Three tons of ammonium nitrate was ordered by these individuals and delivered to them. It was their intent to use this for a terrorist attack."

However, according to a report in Sunday's Toronto Star, the fertilizer was delivered as part of a sting operation by investigators.

At the news conference held by the Canadian police Friday, there was no mention of the sting operation though.

Sources told the Toronto Star newspaper that police set up the operation after learning of the group's intention to build a bomb, moving in to control the sale and transportation of the ammonium nitrate.

Once the deal was completed, investigators swooped in and made the arrests, the Toronto Star reported.

Meanwhile, vandals smashed 28 windows of a Toronto mosque Saturday and Canadian Muslims expressed fear Sunday that a backlash had begun.

"Numerous windows were smashed" at the mosque either late Saturday or early on Sunday and the incident was being investigated, a police official said in an interview to Reuters.

A possible link between the vandalism and the arrests is being investigated by Toronto police.

Mohammad Alam, the president Islamic Foundation of Toronto, said the incident may be the beginning of religiously motivated reprisals against the country's Muslim population, estimated at more than 700,000.

Tarek Fatah, spokesman for the Muslim Canadian Congress, said he felt "a mixture of shock and relief" following the arrests, which began late Friday. "It's too close to home," he said.

Talking to Pakistani English Newspaper Daily Times, Fatah said “This is bad news...Unless we eliminate from amongst our ranks people with such distorted thinking and utterly such erroneous interpretations of Islam, I fear the future of Muslim communities in the West is riddled with uncertainty.”

Canada's spy agency Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) said the (arrested) men had become "adherents of a violent ideology inspired by al Qaeda."

Last week on Monday, top RCMP and CSIS officials appeared before the Canadian Senate Committee on National Security and Defense and emphasized the threat of homegrown terrorism.

"We are seeing phenomena in Canada such as the emergence of homegrown, second- and third-generation terrorists," Jack Hooper, the CSIS Deputy Director of Operations testified.

"These are people who may have immigrated to Canada at an early age who become radicalized while in Canada - have converted to the intolerant, extremist version of Islam. They are virtually indistinguishable from other youth.

"They blend into our society very well, they speak our language," he added.

Mr Hooper added, "We have cases of white Anglo-Saxon male Protestants converting to the most radical forms of Islam."

Islam is the fastest growing religion in North America. Muslims in USA number more than 7 (seven) million. Canada's Muslim population exceeds 700,000.

Such statements are reminiscent of former US Attorney General and  evangelist John Ashcroft's statements post September 11, says Naeem, a  Pakistani-Canadian  professional.

Alvin Chand, a brother of suspect Steven Vikash Chand, said outside the courthouse that his brother was innocent and authorities ‘‘just want to show they’re doing something.’’

‘‘He’s not a terrorist, come on. He’s a Canadian citizen,’’ Chand said. ‘‘The people that were arrested are good people, they go to the mosque, they go to school, go to college.’’

CSIS, Canada's spy agency has been reporting that a "new generation of jihadists" was emerging in Canada composed of Muslim youths angry about what they see as the oppression of Muslims everywhere.

CSIS also reported that a "high percentage" of the extremists on its target list are Canadian-born Muslims.

According to Naeem it (the arrest of 17 Canadian Muslims) is linked to the Conservative Government (similar to George Bush's government) extending the Anti-Terrorism Act (C36) which expires on October 1 this year.

"They  have to create a hype to have the anti-terrorist act renewed by the parliament. Stephen Harper's conservative government is in minority...they have to make it an all-party issue in order to have it renewed again, " said Naeem.

Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement after the arrests ‘‘These individuals were allegedly intent on committing acts of terrorism against their own country and their own people,’’ ‘‘As we have said on many occasions, Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism.’’

The unmasking of the terrorist conspiracy is bound to have serious and perhaps lasting implications for not only Canadian but America Muslims as well, wrote Khalid Hasan of the Daily Times on Sunday.

Already, more and more people in Europe and North America are beginning to believe that multiculturalism, of which Canada is the prime example, has failed to induce Muslims to integrate themselves with the communities in which they live, Mr Hasan added in his news report on the incident.

It means time is coming when we (Muslims) may have to leave or live like second-class citizens, commented Naeem.

According to Naeem, the 19 Pakistanis who were arrested in August 2003 on terrorism-related charges were later released for lack of "concrete evidences". Prior to their deportation to Pakistan on "illegal stay, etc. grounds", the Pakistani consulate in Toronto insisted Canadian government issue individual letters to each of these "affected Pakistanis" clearing them of "terrorism or terrorism related charges, suspicions, etc." Canada complied with, added Naeem.

Following is a list including the names, ages and cities of the men who have been arrested in Toronto in the most recent sweep and can be named:

• Fahim Ahmad, 21, Toronto;
• Zakaria Amara, 20, Mississauga, Ont.;
• Asad Ansari, 21, Mississauga;
• Shareef Abdelhaleen, 30, Mississauga;
• Qayyum Abdul Jamal, 43, Mississauga;
• Mohammed Dirie, 22, Kingston, Ont.;
• Yasim Abdi Mohamed, 24, Kingston;
• Jahmaal James, 23, Toronto;
• Amin Mohamed Durrani, 19, Toronto;
• Steven Vikash Chand alias Abdul Shakur 25, Toronto;
• Ahmad Mustafa Ghany, 21, Mississauga;
• Saad Khalid, 19, of Eclipse Avenue, Mississauga.