The Fort Hood massacre & “Toronto 18” connection

By Douglas J. Hagmann & Judi McLeod, December 15, 2009
Canada Free Press

There is a direct connection between the Islamic terrorist attack at Fort Hood to the members of the so-called “Toronto 18,” an Islamic terrorist cell broken up by counter-terrorism authorities in 2006. That nexus is Anwar Nasser al-Awlaki (a/k/a Aulaqi), the former Imam of the Dar al Hijrah Mosque in Falls Church, Virginia. Al Awlaki privately counseled at least three of the 9/11 terrorists in the months prior to 9/11, and was found to be in contact with Nidal Malik HASAN, the Muslim terrorist who murdered 14 Americans (including one unborn child) at Fort Hood on November 7, 2009 in the weeks and months leading up to that attack.

The convoluted relationship of terror suspects also involves two Muslim Americans who embarked on a week-long trip to meet with Canadian terror suspects in a March 2005 “Islamic terror summit” in Toronto, Ontario. Both were sentenced last week to lengthy prison terms for their planning terrorist attacks, and the recruitment and training of others.

On 20 July 2006, Canada Free Press & the Northeast Intelligence Network were the first to report that two terror suspects from the U.S., Syed Haris AHMED and Ehsanul SADEQUEE met with other subjects of ongoing counter-terrorism investigation in Toronto, Ontario “to engage in activities in support of violent jihad.” They met with several members of the group subsequently dubbed the “Toronto 18” as first reported in this CFP June 4, 2006 exclusive. The “Toronto 18” were originally been charged with plotting to engage in various terrorism acts including the importation of weapons, plotting various bombings and assassinations, and other acts of terrorism against public officials and facilities in Ontario.

Yesterday, the U.S. Justice Department announced that Syed Haris AHMED, convicted in June of conspiring to support terrorism in the US and abroad was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William S. Duffey, Jr. to 13 years in prison followed by 30 years of probation. SADEQUEE, who was convicted on August 12, 2009 and was sentenced to 17 years in prison followed by 30 years of supervised release.

Of the Canadian terror group, one was convicted on terror related charges and another four have pleaded guilty. Six others currently await trial. Interestingly, charges against seven others have been withdrawn or suspended through court decisions that have been sealed. Others at the periphery of the group remain under investigation.

Without question, but one that has yet to be fully addressed, however, is the role played by Anwar Nasser al-Awlaki, the mentor of the Fort Hood Muslim terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan. The Toronto terror suspects are close followers of Al Awlaki, who remains free in Yemen, conducting Internet sermons to Americans and Canadians alike on waging jihad for Islam. Anwar al-Awlaki praised Nidal Malik Hasan’s actions on his website, and in an interview just days later. He provided similar advice and motivation for the Toronto terror suspects, and continues to advise all Muslims to fight against those who fight Islam. Most assuredly, the words of al Awlaki are being heeded by those in the Canadian armed forces. The question is:  what will be done to offset the possibility of a Canadian equivalent of the Fort Hood massacre?

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