تويت
Alleged terror cell’s training camp proved they were serious, court told
Isabel Teotonio
Staff Reporter
The organizers of an alleged terrorist training camp videotaped attendees performing military exercises and undergoing firearms training to show how “serious” they were and to advertise the group to potential recruits, local imams and jihadi leaders overseas, a court heard Tuesday.
Mubin Shaikh, who infiltrated the alleged homegrown terror cell, testified in a Brampton court about a camp held in late December 2005, in a wooded area in Washago, Ont., where attendees played paintball war games and handled a 9 mm handgun.
“Paintball is a substitute for combat,” said the former army cadet, who testified he was recruited by the group’s alleged ringleader, Fahim Ahmad, to be a camp trainer.
The paintball games, said Shaikh, “simulated combat, but with a jihadi flavour. .. Muslim combatants against the infidels.”
Shaikh is testifying at the trial of Toronto-area men Ahmad, Steven Chand and Asad Ansari, who were arrested on June 2, 2006.
They have all pleaded not guilty. They are the last three members of the alleged terror cell to face trial and the first to have their case tried by a jury.
The court was shown photographs of trees with bullet grazings and paintball splatterings, remnants of their alleged training sessions.
Shaikh said one of the camp’s leaders videotaped many of the activities, some of which were played for the jury. In one scene, a man is lying in the snow pretending to be a sniper. In another, Shaikh is visible shooting an air rifle and jolting back as if from the kickback.
Shaikh said he played along in staging the scene with the air rifle because he was instructed to do so by a camp leader, who wanted to “give the impression that we were using larger calibre weapons.”
He said he was told: “We’re taping this so we can show other people that we’re serious.”
Shaikh said he understood the taping was done “for the purposes of advertising the training” and to “ingratiate ourselves not only to potential recruits, but also supporters within the Muslim community, imams who are considered to be jihad friendly.”
The Crown witness also testified that he was told the video was to be sent to “jihadi leaders overseas in Afghanistan.”
And they, in turn, would “send us people, highly-trained people, to help us further advance our operational capability.”
Camp attendees also participated in long marches and in an obstacle course, which included leapfrogging over tree stumps and doing judo rolls under logs, court heard.
Prosecutors allege Ahmad led a terrorist group and that he wanted to strike specific targets such as Parliament, electrical grids and nuclear stations. The winter camp was allegedly organized as a step toward preparing recruits for such attacks.
Ahmad is also alleged to have organized a second, less significant, camp in May 2006, which took place at the Rockwood Conservation Area, near Guelph.
Ansari, 25, Ahmad and Chand are all charged with knowingly participating in a terrorist group for the purpose of carrying out a terrorist activity.
Ahmad, 25, is also charged with importing firearms for a terrorist group, as well as knowingly instructing his co-accused to carry out an activity for a terrorist group.
Chand, 29, is also charged with counselling to commit fraud over $5,000 for the benefit of a terrorist group.
The trial before Justice Fletcher Dawson is expected to last up to two months.
Staff Reporter
The organizers of an alleged terrorist training camp videotaped attendees performing military exercises and undergoing firearms training to show how “serious” they were and to advertise the group to potential recruits, local imams and jihadi leaders overseas, a court heard Tuesday.
Mubin Shaikh, who infiltrated the alleged homegrown terror cell, testified in a Brampton court about a camp held in late December 2005, in a wooded area in Washago, Ont., where attendees played paintball war games and handled a 9 mm handgun.
“Paintball is a substitute for combat,” said the former army cadet, who testified he was recruited by the group’s alleged ringleader, Fahim Ahmad, to be a camp trainer.
The paintball games, said Shaikh, “simulated combat, but with a jihadi flavour. .. Muslim combatants against the infidels.”
Shaikh is testifying at the trial of Toronto-area men Ahmad, Steven Chand and Asad Ansari, who were arrested on June 2, 2006.
They have all pleaded not guilty. They are the last three members of the alleged terror cell to face trial and the first to have their case tried by a jury.
The court was shown photographs of trees with bullet grazings and paintball splatterings, remnants of their alleged training sessions.
Shaikh said one of the camp’s leaders videotaped many of the activities, some of which were played for the jury. In one scene, a man is lying in the snow pretending to be a sniper. In another, Shaikh is visible shooting an air rifle and jolting back as if from the kickback.
Shaikh said he played along in staging the scene with the air rifle because he was instructed to do so by a camp leader, who wanted to “give the impression that we were using larger calibre weapons.”
He said he was told: “We’re taping this so we can show other people that we’re serious.”
Shaikh said he understood the taping was done “for the purposes of advertising the training” and to “ingratiate ourselves not only to potential recruits, but also supporters within the Muslim community, imams who are considered to be jihad friendly.”
The Crown witness also testified that he was told the video was to be sent to “jihadi leaders overseas in Afghanistan.”
And they, in turn, would “send us people, highly-trained people, to help us further advance our operational capability.”
Camp attendees also participated in long marches and in an obstacle course, which included leapfrogging over tree stumps and doing judo rolls under logs, court heard.
Prosecutors allege Ahmad led a terrorist group and that he wanted to strike specific targets such as Parliament, electrical grids and nuclear stations. The winter camp was allegedly organized as a step toward preparing recruits for such attacks.
Ahmad is also alleged to have organized a second, less significant, camp in May 2006, which took place at the Rockwood Conservation Area, near Guelph.
Ansari, 25, Ahmad and Chand are all charged with knowingly participating in a terrorist group for the purpose of carrying out a terrorist activity.
Ahmad, 25, is also charged with importing firearms for a terrorist group, as well as knowingly instructing his co-accused to carry out an activity for a terrorist group.
Chand, 29, is also charged with counselling to commit fraud over $5,000 for the benefit of a terrorist group.
The trial before Justice Fletcher Dawson is expected to last up to two months.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/794612